At the helm of the Uganda Media Women’s Association for 21 years

Her first brush with media work was in 1983 on Radio Uganda. She became the chairperson for the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) in 1994, which has become her life since.

She is an interviewer’s dream. “Keeping it real” is the catchword for this woman. There is no pretence; she tells it as it is, sure of her position in life.

“I’m married to activism,” she says with a ready smile. Margaret Sentamu-Masagazi is soft-spoken but this should not be mistaken for timidity.

Although her first course at Makerere University (Mak) was a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Sociology (1980-83), politics was never an option for the veteran woman media activist. “I was active in student politics as a member of the Democratic Party and a guild representative for Mary Stuart Hall.

Because of that, I got a scholarship to study a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication at the University of Nairobi in 1985.”

Before the scholarship, Sentamu-Masagazi worked with Radio Uganda on a features and drama programme, in 1983, at the same time pursuing a diploma in journalism at Makerere University.

Joining journalism and activism
After her postgraduate, she was an intern reporter at the Nation Media Group in Nairobi, and a correspondent for the Harare office of the Inter Press Service, a global news agency, for one year.

Returning to Kampala in 1987, Sentamu joined Uganda Television (now UBC) as a news editor for a year before joining the School of Journalism at Uganda Management Institute (UMI) as a lecturer.
“In 1994, I picked interest in the media. I had a passion for women taking their place in the media. So, I became the secretary general for the Uganda Media Women’s Association, and then I became chairperson in 1994, when Victoria Namusisi Nalongo quit the position to join politics.”

In the run up to the 1996 general election, UMWA was engaged by the government to carry out civic education of the population. “We were in charge of the media component. After the elections, I did not return to the lecture room. I decided to concentrate on UMWA.”

Victoria Sekitoleko, then minister for Agriculture, was interested in women activism and encouraged UMWA to help female politicians interface with the media. Activism was still a new concept at the time. “She inspired me,” says Sentamu. “I wonder where she got the guts to mentor us. She challenged us, throwing us into deep waters to test us.”

Her overseer role has over the years grown to include heading Mama FM, a women-focused radio, founded and managed by women, and the Other Voice, a news publication.

Her passion for women in media
“At UMI, a journalism class had 15 students but only three were women. We thought that lack of funds was barring the women so we organised scholarships for them,” she says. “I would get invitations to serious meetings, and I would only find one or two other women in attendance. It was disheartening that women lacked the skills to effect changes in national policy. But at least, 50 women benefited from the scholarships.”

At the Department of Women and Gender Studies at Mak, while studying for a Master’s degree (1996-98), Sentamu began to appreciate women’s behaviour, when she researched on women in the media. “I discovered that we are a bit slow because of our cultural upbringing and the structure of media houses that favour men. Also, young female journalists have no mentors.”

Challenges in the industry
“Sexual harassment of younger girls by older higher-positioned men, facilitated by older female colleagues, was a problem while at UTV. Luckily, at 27, I was forward looking and never became a victim.”

“Women sit back and expect to be served, but life is about struggling. When you push some women, they think you do not wish them well. When you secure a scholarship for someone, she might think you want her out of the way. Many times, I have cried and wanted to quit. Backstabbing is serious among media women because many come with different motives.”

Running an NGO is also a challenge, especially when most workers are volunteers, who will leave after receiving training, and the donors may not fund the costs. “I once met my former lecturer from Nairobi.

He wondered how I had been transformed into a “militant” because he remembered me as a very shy girl. My exposure in Kenya shaped me. I was sent to the streets to look for stories, many times pleading with sources that were reluctant to speak English saying Ugandans pretend not to know Swahili.”

The environment was challenging because her supervisors would shout at her, trying to make sense of what she wanted to communicate in her stories.

“It is not like here, where junior reporters expect to be cajoled or pampered. There it did not matter if you cried as long as you submitted a good story – in time!”

Younger generation can do better
Sentamu says she rarely has time for herself. Many times, she has had to sleep in the office to beat a deadline. Once, she was studying, chairing UMWA, lecturing, and was a wife and mother, all at the same time. “I failed to make a balance. To tell you the truth, many women activists are struggling in their marriages.”

She adds; “Once you refuse to be held back, your marriage is not going to last. If it does, it will struggle. You cannot expect a woman of today to wake up early, do chores, go to work, and after 5pm return to the kitchen.”

And she knows about struggling marriages. Sentamu, a Catholic, is separated from her husband, a journalist. “I believe he could not contend with an over-achieving wife,” she says.

Although she appreciates that she was part of the problem, her focus is now on her two children and encouraging them to appreciate her work in women activism and emancipation.

“The media has not helped us. They expect us to behave like our mothers did; if you don’t, you are portrayed as a nonconformist. They fail to realise that times have changed, and if they continue portraying us like that, our daughters will not want to fight for their rights.”

She says women activists are portrayed as women who cannot maintain relationships and according to Sentamu, their daughters do not want to be like them.

“The way society is structured, has made us activists, and journalists should investigate how society can be changed.” The activist realises that her generation should have done things differently and now she encourages younger colleagues to socialise, have relationships, start families early, and plan carefully on when to leave the newsroom.
“Female journalists should avail themselves because nothing comes on a silver platter
. Read, build a skill every other day to prove your worthiness. And do not accept to be pulled down. Plan for your family. You will not go for maternity leave every year; the company you work for has to make a profit from which you derive your salary.”

“They should also position themselves for management positions. Twenty years ago, we had fewer women in the media. Now we have more as editors and managers, thanks to the numerous training institutes, but professionalism is still lacking and many more can still be uplifted.”

“Women in senior positions need to network to help each other, and reach out to younger ones. Women go through many hurdles. We need affirmative action in the media.”

To that end, UMWA is launching a new strategic plan which will provide for the mentoring of young women. “We need to mentor journalists in the way they dress and talk. Some are being sexually harassed and they do not even know it. Men and women need to hear each other’s views if we are to have mental liberation.”

Origin
Sentamu-Masagazi was born on April 22, 1960 to Dr Edward Patrick Sentamu and Teresa Nakalema, a primary school teacher, as the sixth born of 12 siblings. One of them is Prof. Edward Dumba Sentamu, Makerere University Vice Chancellor. She went to St Teresa Bwanda, St Clare Nkoni for her primary school before joining Trinity College Nabbingo for her secondary school.

In 1980, she joined Makerere University for her first degree, before joining the University of Nairobi in 1983 for a post graduate diploma in Journalism.

Advice to female Journalists

• Must have passion for the journalism career
• Keep building knowledge on almost everything.
• Budget time to participate in professional development networks
• Carry yourself, and dress in a dignified manner, that way you may shove off sexual harassment!
• Don’t get married to work! You must have a social life.
• Be open-minded! Accept criticisms! Many young women would rather expect pampering
• A reporter should be up to date with the current technology and ever ready to do a story anywhere!
• Skill to be an all-round journalists- radio, TV, print and on-line.

All about Uganda Media Wowen’s Association

Uganda Media Women’s Association, UMWA, was founded in 1983 by a group of female journalists, to fight for the rights of women in the media.

In 1997, UMWA was transformed into a human rights advocacy and service delivery NGO. It is nonprofit making.

UMWA operates nationally, collaborates at the regional and sometimes at the international level to achieve in its areas of operation including human rights, gender equality, democratization, social and economic justice, as well as peace and reconciliation.

At the national level, UMWA has been very instrumental in coalitions working for gender equality and human rights. At the international scene, UMWA is active in coalitions for intercultural awareness exchange and appreciation.

UMWA is a member to the East African Media Women Network. UMWA’s primary target groups are women and groups of people experiencing disadvantaged situations while media women are the secondary beneficiaries for purposes of enhancing their skills and fighting for their rights.

UMWA’s role
• Promote active participation of women in decision making process
• Promote gender equality.
• Provide a forum for dialogue between marginalised groups and policy makers.
• Advocate and create awareness among Ugandan women about their rights, freedoms, roles, responsibilities, and civic duties.
• Counter the negative portrayal of women in and by the media.
• Promote professional excellence among media women.