The contribution of media in shaping security sector reforms in Uganda: A case study of selected broadcast and print media stations in Kampala

Abstract

This study undertook to examine the contribution of the media and other factors in shaping the security sector reform in Uganda. The study specifically examined the various contributions of the media in shaping the security sector reforms in Uganda, identified the challenges faced by Uganda’s media in reforming the security sector , and established the other factors influencing the security sector reform in Uganda.

The study population comprised the media staff, security operatives, and the general community in Kampala city. In examining the contribution of the media and other factors in shaping the security sector reforms, the study adopted a descriptive and correlational research design utilizing quantitative in nature. On the other hand, a qualitative approach was used to assess the challenges faced by the media whereby journalists were subjected to in-depth interviews to gather information from them.

The results of the study revealed that the mass media channels namely; the radio, TV, and print media explained 47.9% of the contribution in performance of security sector (adjusted R2 = 0.479). This means that 52.1% of the contribution was accounted for by other factors not considered under this model. However, only two channels of the media, namely; the radio (β = 0.568, p = 0.000 < 0.05) and television broadcasting (β = 0.271, p = 0.004 < 0.05) had a positive and significant contribution on performance of the security sector in Uganda while the print media (β = -0.090, p = 0.312 < 0.05) had a negative and insignificant influence on the security sector performance. Despite its positive contribution in shaping the security sector performance, the findings further revealed through the interviews with the journalists that media faces a number of challenges in reforming the security sector in Uganda. The main challenges the interviewees highlighted were lack of legal provisions/instruments that grant journalists access to information and running parallel to that the maintenance of archaic laws on statute books that limit access; government red tape; inadequate funding and institutional bureaucracy; political violence; and inadequate training. The study findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between the other factors and security sector performance (p = 0.05) as depicted by 45.2%. These other factors include leadership factors, resources factors; and organizational culture.

This concludes that the Ugandan media plays its role albeit a series of barriers and decrees imposed by governments to limit media influence. The study also concludes that there are other factors that affect security sector performance. In this regard, the study recommends that the core security agencies (the UPDF and UPF) should rebrand their leaderships, resources, organization culture and structure to improve their performance.