The Ugandan Cabinet has adopted new guidelines that require ministers and senior government officials to use the Uganda Media Centre as the main platform for communicating official government decisions, policies, and programmes to the public. This move aims to improve coordination of government communication, reduce contradictory statements by public officials, and ensure citizens receive timely and clear information about government decisions and services. The guidelines were announced by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, at a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre.
The guidelines apply to ministers, senior government officials, and senior technical officers, but exclude the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Ministers. According to Lumumba, ministers and senior leaders in government are expected to pass over official government communications to the public through the Media Centre. Ministries will be required to coordinate significant announcements with the Media Centre, while retaining responsibility for verifying facts and approving the information they release. The Media Centre will support them with press conferences, media releases, production, and public information.
The arrangement aims to address inconsistencies in government communication and improve the public's understanding of government programmes and services. Lumumba stated that this should reduce contradictory statements and provide citizens with clearer, more timely explanations of government decisions and services. The guidelines also require government communication to be delivered in languages understood by the intended audiences, rather than relying exclusively on English and Kiswahili.
To ensure effective communication, government officials will use appropriate local and neighbouring languages depending on the subject of the information and the people it is intended to reach. Lumumba emphasized that they will not limit themselves only to the official languages, but will also use local languages or languages in the neighbourhood as needed. Additionally, the government will work to make information available in accessible formats to reach different categories of people.
However, Lumumba noted that the guidelines would not delay urgent communication during emergencies. During emergencies, information needed to protect life, health, or safety must be issued without delay. She further emphasized that the new arrangements would preserve lawful access to information and press freedom, ensuring that the public remains informed and engaged.
The Uganda Media Centre, established in 2005 under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, is mandated to communicate government policies, programmes, and projects to the public and coordinate official government communication. The Centre also organizes press briefings and provides a platform for government officials to engage the media. The guidelines come against the background of the National Communication Policy 2026, which Cabinet adopted on March 9 and was officially launched in October.
The National Communication Policy 2026 seeks to improve coordination of communication across ministries, departments, agencies, and local governments, while addressing delays and inconsistencies in the dissemination of public information. With these new guidelines, the Ugandan government aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and effective communication with its citizens. The policy and guidelines are expected to promote a more cohesive and efficient government communication system.
Key points
- The Ugandan Cabinet has directed ministers and senior government officials to use the Uganda Media Centre for official communication.
- The guidelines aim to improve coordination of government communication, reduce contradictory statements, and ensure timely and clear information to citizens.
- The guidelines require government communication to be delivered in languages understood by the intended audiences.
