Government seeks media support to promote investment and tourism.

Following a media engagement organized by the State House Investors Protection Unit, several loopholes were identified as to why government communication in accounting to the population is still a nightmare.

Several government communicators are very active while others are redundant much as they may hold offices where communication to the masses about the activities of the particular government department is the most effective form of accountability.

In her remarks to the media Col. Edith  Nakalema the head of the state House Investors Protection Unit urged media professionals to focus on reassuring investors and tourists about Uganda's economic stability and growth opportunities.

Col. Nakalema further stressed the importance of disseminating accurate and relevant information about government priorities. She noted that effective communication is crucial for investors to identify viable opportunities and boost overall investor confidence. “We must make it easier for investors to see the potential in the economy through communication that targets investment and tourism,” she said.

The meeting held on Friday 5^th July comprising several permanent secretaries, heads of government institutions, and senior technical personnel as far as media activities are concerned was largely attended by senior journalists who included talk show hosts, news anchors, producers, and senior reporters.

President Yoweri Museveni directed that 8 percent of a ministry budget goes to the communication departments to enable government communicators to carry on sensitization of the public about government activities, hold media engagements, on-site country visits to evaluate government performance, and procure advertising to showcase their works to Ugandans.

Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance emphasized the role of transparency and accountability in building trust among investors.

However several challenges were identified and these include, failure by permanent secretaries to budget and release money for communicators, diversion of resources, lazy communicators, and lack of proper skills by communicators to build formidable relationships with media to have a networking mode of cooperation.

UPDF Spokesperson Brig. Kulayigye highlighted the critical role of communication as a powerful instrument, pointing out that the government has not invested enough in this area. He questioned the motivations behind the media's content, urging journalists to consider the impact of their work on the country’s image.

The discussions were endless and were only postponed by time shortage.

Below are some of the most active government departments;

State House- Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister

National Environment Management Authority, National Agricultural advisory services NAADS, National Agriculture research organization NAARO

Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Uganda Communications Commission

Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Uganda Revenue Authority, the others are facing challenging situations either because of various bureaucracies or deliberate failures to account to the public.

These include:

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, Ministry of Works and Transport, UIA | Uganda Investment Authority, Dairy Development Authority

Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, National Planning Authority.