Christian journalists urged to prioritize accurate church-related Stories

During a media engagement organized by the Kampala Diocese and held at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero in Kampala, Provost Rebecca Nyegenye emphasized the vital role journalists play. “Journalists are a light not only to the church but to the entire population; people consume what journalists publish or write,” she said. She added that they understand the critical role journalists play, which is why engaging them is vital to support them in writing more accurate and better information.

The event, which gathered about 100 participants, aimed to explore how the church can work effectively with the media to spread the gospel and engage in reporting on marginalized voices. Rev. Oyugi Peter, the chief facilitator, stressed the importance of ethical journalism and integrity. “Journalists must promote local stories where the church is involved. Bad news has covered everything; we must recognize the good and write about it,” he stated. He also encouraged journalists to focus on their work and pray for guidance, citing Bible verses such as 1 Timothy 4:12 and Colossians 3:24 as inspiration.

1 Timothy 4:12 states, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” Colossians 3:24 reminds believers, “Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Rev. Peter highlighted the need to counter colonial ideologies in storytelling. “I want to give the example of the African story where whites come and discover physical features—that’s colonial ideology which is not paid attention to and it has killed our African story,” he said.

The president of the Church of Uganda Media Association (CHOUMA) expressed concerns about the lack of attention from church leaders towards journalists. “We try to come near the church, however, the church leaders are not paying attention to us, which has led to disunity among Christian journalists and limits their ability to register the association,” he noted.