Journalists on duty everyday face extreme danger, including kidnapping, hostage-taking, offline and online harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention , torture and at the extreme being murdered.

In Uganda, the Press Freedom Index Report of 2021 by the Human Rights Network for Journalists -HRNJ, recorded at least 131 cases of abuse or violations of rights of journalists.

For such reasons, Umbrella for Journalists in Kasese-UJK working with its partner Freedom House through the support of USAID are implementing “the protect and promote press freedom project” in the four district of-Kasese, Bunyangabu, Kabarole and Bundibugyo in the Rwenzori sub region.

Cardinal to this project is to enhance the  media freedoms and safety of journalists by providing emergency support to affected media practitioners in the Rwenzori      sub region and strengthening peer support networks      for collective promotion and protection of media freedoms.

https://ujk-ug.org/promoting-and-protecting-media-freedoms-every-journalists-responsibility/

Listening from communities on their priority needs is essential. However, most people in leadership has not considered this as a tool for inclusive decision making in development and actions. Majority of the people do complain of their views to which is central to the solutions are neglected and to some extent politicized.  

"We believe that there is no one from those up to help our problems. We know what we want to drive the change we desire but it needs everyone's commitment and active participation and at any age". 

This engagement mission is on open governance and accountability practice in the rural Uganda. Simplified as The Accountability Podium (TAP)