All over the world, the media is in a state of flux. In Uganda, for example, the sector is buffeted by several challenges, including dwindling advertising revenue, prohibitive laws and an unfriendly working environment.
The State of Uganda’s Media Landscape 2023 report is a summation of what ails the sector. Published by the Kampala-based African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) and released on August 12, 2024, it examines key trends and developments that have emerged since the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey also identifies key factors shaping the media environment in the country, including challenges, opportunities and influential players.
Indeed, the report is a one-stop shop for those seeking to understand the falling standards and frequency of investigative stories in Uganda and makes poignant observations on the current trends in the media.
On economic viability, it says: “Many media outlets struggle with financial sustainability due to declining advertising revenue, rising operational costs, and limited alternative revenue streams. Additionally, inadequate infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, hinders the growth of the media industry and limits access to information.”
The ACME report throws its torchlight on the raft of threats facing the media in Uganda and returns a gloomy verdict. “Despite its diversity, the Ugandan media faces threats from state and non-state actors, with journalists experiencing physical, virtual, and emotional harassment, arrests and detention, leading to self-censorship.”
Turning to the operational environment in Uganda, the survey makes an ominous observation: “The safety of journalists depends on their beat. For instance, those covering non-political topics like sports or health face fewer threats than those covering politics or those conducting investigative journalism. Feeling threatened, journalists may choose to avoid covering sensitive topics, leading to potential information gaps for citizens.”
Journalists, the report says, “are among Uganda’s lowest-paid professionals.” It adds that many lack contracts and work for meager wages. “Surveys indicate only a small fraction earn over US$260 monthly.”
It is a long catalogue of pain for those who have chosen to earn a living by telling stories using different tools.
However, these ‘afflictions’ must not be misused by unethical or lazy journalists to further desecrate this important profession. In many young democracies, the state or public media have been reduced to mouthpieces for the ruling class. Most private media owners, fearing government reprisals and losing out on advertising money from corporates, have made their enterprises lame ducks and tongue-tied bulldogs. In short, the owners are worshipping at the altar of primitive accumulation of elusive wealth.
It is expected that private entities that have declared investigations as their core work prod deeply into their stories – unveiling all angles without fear, favour or fatigue. This is the test that the latest ‘investigative’ story on Equity Bank Uganda by Investigator News failed lamentably.
On December 1, 2024, the publication ran a story alleging a heavy mesh of impropriety by the top management of the bank. However, it carried no response from the persons it accused of indulging in untamed procedural graft. There was also no effort to get comments from Equity Bank’s top management in Kampala or its headquarters in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
The story had a mouthful but inviting title: ‘Too Good for Equity Bank Brand: Details How Resigned MD Anthony Kituuka Feared for His Legacy and The Ghostly Presence of His Predecessor Samuel Kirubi.’ The bank holds huge amounts of depositors’ money. Anybody would eagerly want to read the story to understand the alleged management shenanigans at the bank. This explains the sensitivity of the story, and why whoever is writing such a report must – as a matter of good practice – confirm and balance every allegation made therein.
To be fair to him, reporter Stephen Kasozi Muwambi – who describes himself as having two decades’ experience in investigative journalism – touched on what would amount to high-voltage crime by Equity Bank Uganda’s top management in Kampala and Nairobi, but failed to pursue them to balanced conclusions.
Listen to the intro of the story that was flagged as a special report: “Anthony Kituuka, as you may already be aware, is no longer the MD of the Equity Bank Uganda. And we have been informed that his decision was informed by his desire to preserve his legacy.” The writer didn’t disclose the source of the claim.
The story alleged that during his time at the managing director of Equity Bank Uganda, Samuel Kirubi authorised huge loans to certain individuals, and that their servicing ran into headwinds. He wasn’t punished for the mistake, the publication said.
“Bank of Uganda [which is the country’s Central Bank], upon the borrowers’ failure to pay back the stated loans, declined to renew Kirubi’s MD job tenure. Even so, and, despite his lapses that had caused considerable financial losses to them, Kirubi’s employers, who are Kenyans like him, recruited him again as the Equity Group Holdings’ Chief Operations Officer, away from Uganda.” This was a huge allegation, but the story didn’t pursue it with proof. The tone of the para also smacked of cross-border territorial disdain.
The writer claimed that Equity Bank Uganda “had reportedly, also tried to block his [Anthony Kituuka’s] resignation, pledging to process his promotion together with added perks. But the senior banker, unlike his predecessor [Samuel Kirubi], assumedly chose to put his legacy above heavenly promises.” This allegation was also left yawning for confirmation.
The story had another, more damning allegation against the bank’s top management and staff: “To make matters much worse, following Kirubi’s exit and during Kituuka’s own tenure, another heist centered on yet a fresh set of loans worth a whopping sixty-five billion shillings, unfolded. The funds were then said to have been processed by a group of rogue staff at the said bank, and strangely disguised as if the same had been issued out to the said bank’s customers. Yet, in truth, those funds had merely been internally shared out.” That claim was also left hanging, without an iota of proof. Who allowed the illegal pay-out, if at all? There was no word from Mr Mark Ocitti, the chairman of Equity Bank Uganda’s board of directors. Nothing was forthcoming from Mr Kituuka.
Lesson learnt? The alleged improprieties by the top management of Equity Bank Uganda (and the story had more) are too grave to be handled shoddily. To avoid causing a run on the bank, Investigator News – and, indeed the media in Uganda – must return to the story and tell it more comprehensively. This time, with strong evidence, confirmed and balanced facts, and sanctioned figures.
