Vibrant media essential for growth , says UK Envoy
New British High Commissioner to Uganda Lisa Chesney (left) interacts with NMG-Uganda Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa (centre), NMG-U Acting Managing Editor Allan Chekwech (2nd right) and NMG-U General Manager Editorial Daniel Kalinaki. This was during her visit to the Daily Monitor offices in Namuwongo, Kampala, yesterday. PHOTO / ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- NMG balances the difficulty in decision making to practise responsible journalism and keep its business afloat
The new British High Commissioner to Uganda, Ms Lisa Chesney, has applauded the Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-U) for its work in impactful and bold journalism, which she says is key for the advancement and welfare of the country.
“…a big thank you to what you do,’’ she said after hearing testimonies of the delicate balance of journalism the Daily Monitor practices in Uganda, during a visit to the group headquarters in Kampala yesterday.
“Vibrant media is absolutely essential for any country’s growth and development, and I am very excited about the media scene in Uganda, and it has been a great visit to Nation Media Group. I have got a good insight into making those difficult decisions about responsible journalism, which is really important and fact-checking editorial independence. I have had a very warm welcome and it has been hugely valuable,” Ms Chesney added.
She assumed duties as the British High Commissioner to Uganda in October, replacing Ms Kate Airey.
During her visit, she and officials at the group discussed the delicate media landscape characterised by changes in financial models, technological disruptions such as social media and Artificial Intelligence, the existential challenges of commercial and political interference, as well as misinformation and disinformation.
The Managing Director for NMG-U, Ms Susan Nsibirwa, said the group works to maintain a balance between its business and sticking to its editorial standards of factual, bold and impactful journalism.
“At a certain point, you have got to make some hard decisions and say, you know what, guys, for this one, let's stick with editorial. We'll talk about the commercial shortfalls. So, we do suffer for that, to be quite honest. We will lose business because even advertisers feel like, it is because they're advertising with you, therefore you are not ever supposed to ever, ever say anything. You're supposed to become like their PR piece, which obviously we cannot do, that's not our mandate,” she said.
Mr Daniel Kalinaki, the General Manager for Editorial NMG-U, reiterated the group’s commitment to independent journalism, which is user-centric to meet the demands of the audience.
He also highlighted targeted jibes at the publication from top officials in the country as a challenge and called for caution ahead of the 2026 elections.
“It creates a sense that you are a free hit. So, the commercial guys go to ask for advertising, and they will say we can’t be seen giving you business, all the way to political functionaries’ kind of harassing journalists because the President has said you are the enemy. In engagements in the Diplomatic Corps, any word that gets put in to calm down that rhetoric [will be important]...
“We are now the adults in the room given social media, and what is happening there. Having responsible, credible professional media is good for the government, the country and development,” he said.
“And with elections, things get a bit dicey because things that you can get away with in year one of a new government, you probably are going to get hit over the head in an election year because people in power become very paranoid and the word you hear a lot is, motive. What is the motive? Why now? So, election year is actually probably the worst year,” he added.
Before her posting in Uganda, Ms Chesney served in Freetown, Sierra Leone before being posted to Uganda. She has previously served in Mogadishu, as Deputy Head of Mission, re-establishing a UK embassy in Somalia and in Afghanistan, as UK Head of Politics and Strategic Communications.
According to the British High Commission website, Ms Chesney has experience with a range of countries, multilateral partners and government departments, encompassing diplomatic, security and defence and development issues. She served in the Home Office, leading the UK’s Counter Extremism Unit from 2018 and acting as Gold Command for the Crime, Policing and Fire Group on Covid-19.
TRADE RELATIONS
The UK is one of Uganda’s key allies, with relations dating decades. Uganda and the UK, partner across multiple fields including trade, security and human capital development. Data released in November put trade volumes between the two countries at 705 million pounds, in favour of the UK, which had exported goods with £590 million
