By Alex Baluku
Rwenzori Media Development Foundation (RMDF-Uganda) an independent non-for profit professional organization dedicated to supporting the promotion and development of community media in the Rwenzori Region of Western Uganda, has launched a Peace Journalism Press Club codenamed “Rwenzori Peace Journalism Press Club”.
Launched on 26th May during the Journalists and Social media influencers training on Peace Journalism and Conflict sensitive reporting at White House Hotel in Kasese town, the club is aimed at developing and maintaining best practices on peace journalism, develop guidelines for peace journalism practices, train and maintain database of peace journalists and maintain a database of expertise, resources, contacts that are useful to peace reporting.
It is also aimed at serving as a focal point for peace Journalism in the Rwenzori Region.
What is Peace Journalism? Peace Journalism is when editors and reporters make choices that improve the prospects of peace and these choices include; how to frame stories and carefully choosing which words are used, create an atmosphere conducive to peace and supportive of peace initiatives and peacemakers without compromising the basic principles of good journalism.
In the Rwenzori region, a range of historical, socioeconomic and political tensions have in past years resulted in a series of deadly clashes between different ethnic communities.
Patronage politics of recognition of cultural kingdoms and district creation critically drives the manifestation of these tensions in ethnic violence, especially in the context of electoral contest.
Now, Martin Kibaba, the Executive Director for Rwenzori Media Development Foundation (RMDF-Uganda) says the club will be committed to following the tenets of Peace Journalism, which include reporting peace initiatives, uncovering the non-visible effects of conflicts on societies and individuals, going beyond the conflict issues, reporting the systemic and structural causes of conflict and emphasizing solutions to conflicts.
A five member committee to spearhead the club’s activities was subsequently instituted and Alex Baluku, the founder for rwenzoridaily.com and staff at Messiah Radio in Kasese was elected as the Chairperson, who will be deputized by Gladys Kansiime.
Others on the committee include Peace Buhaka as the General Secretary, Evelyn Kabugho and Innocent Kiiza as Mobilizers.
