Journalists put ethics on the side in scramble for Ham Kiggundu’s cash
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandan journalism is facing an increaisng threat as practitioners continue to display unethical behavior demanding for cash handouts from sources especially after covering events.
Such behavior hit a new low when journalists were seen scrambling to get a share of payments by businessman Ham Kiggundu after a meeting with the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday.
They lined up in queues, all desparate tilo get a share of the money. Although each of them was given 50,000 Shillings, many were seen rejoining the queue, only to be embarrassed by the businessman.
The journalists were covering the launch of the distribution of relief food to be given to 1.5 million Ugandans affected by the COVID-19 lockdown in Wakiso and Kampala.
At the function, businessman Hamis Kiggundu donated 100 million shillings towards the fight against Coronavirus (COVID -19).
All was well until Kiggundu brought out a bundle of 50,000 Shilling notes, and publicly started distributing it to the more than 30 Journalists abd each scrambled to have their share. The line was soon joined by passerbys who saw an opportunity for free cash. However, these were thrown out as Kiggundjmu said the money was a payment for Journalists only.
It is unethical for journalists to receive monetary and non-monetary inducements for news stories, yet this also remains the biggest threat to journalism today.
Moses Bayola, the General Secretary of Uganda journalists Association (UJA) condemned the unethical display by journalists adding that poor pay cannot be used as an excuse to ashame the profession.
Some of the journalists who received the money have since contacted URN saying the story on the incidence should be left to die. Journalists Associations have also requestes to be excused out of the story since they will be perceived in a bad way by colleagues who are apparently underpaid.
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