A section of journalists in Mbale have traded what the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) described as false accusations concerning tomorrow’s graduation ceremony.
In the said allegations, Journalists accuse the University of blocking media houses from covering the much-anticipated graduation which will take place at the University’s main campus tomorrow.
A Facebook blog dubbed Mbale Express earlier ran a blog post under a shocking headline #BREAKINGNEWS IUIU blocks journalists from covering graduation ceremony*
In this blog post, journalists said that the University despite their repeated requests has stopped them from covering the event tomorrow.
They claimed that the Rector Islamic University In Uganda Assoc. Prof. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda instructed his Public Relations Department to block all media houses from covering the event.
“When we contacted the Public Relations Officer Madam Kantono Rehema, The university has been constrained by lack of finances,” reads part of the blog post.
“In another statement she made, she noted that they had limited the participation in the Graduation Ceremony,”
Kizza Faizal a highly respected Journalist working with Vision Group’s local dialect Bukedde is quoted by this Vlog to have personally had a phone interview with Kantono Rehema, the University Public Relations Officer informed him that the University has no funds to facilitate them.
“Kizza assured the PRO Kantono Rehema the media is not interested in their money or Facilitation but they are just patriotic and that they want to do their Patriotically,” the blog said
It adds that Kantono further said she couldn’t carry the burden of inviting journalists she can’t facilitate.
Facts on Ground
DaParrot Reporter on the ground took an initiative to establish if indeed the University had blocked Journalists and media coverage in tomorrow’s event.
According to our Reporter, a section of Journalists shall be on the ground tomorrow.
According to the media coverage plan seen by this Website, two televisions will cover the function live and these include among others the Nile Broadcasting Services Television (NBS TV) and her sister company Salaam TV.
“NBS TV will offer the live coverage for one hour and then Salaam will be live for the entire event,” said Busiku Swaibu a Presenter ad Reporter at IUIU FM Radio Station.
“The problem we have in Mbale is that Journalists are money-oriented, so when you give them a formal invitation they expect money and this time around the budget was that’s why the University chose to have a live coverage so that all people are able to have a glimpse of the ceremony,” he added
DaParrot understands that IUIU always facilitates every Journalist who is invited to the event with a whooping between Shs100,000 and Shs250,000.
“That’s why you see even the parents only one was invited to physically be at the venue, it’s because of budget constraints but IUIU still has more functions away,” he said
Kantono confirmed Busiku’s statement, saying that no journalist has been blocked to cover the event as alleged by the blog post.
Masongole Phoebe a Journalist working with Daily Monitor also confirmed that (Daily Monitor) was invited and will cover the function.
“What I know is the Uganda Radio Network (URN), New Vision, NTV, UBC, NBS TV, Salaam TV, Step FM, Open Gate Radio were invited, others I don’t know,” she said.
DaParrot couldn’t independently verify information from Kizza as his known phones were off by press time.
