While at the time of the 2007 report media lobby groups were described as weak
because of a lack of commitment, things appear to have changed slightly for the
better. In February 2010, several media organisations and institutions launched the
Article 29 Coalition (named after the article in the constitution which guarantees
freedom of expression), a loose coalition of media groups seeking to speak with
one voice.
As Uganda is approaching elections in 2011, it seems that the government is
growing increasingly nervous. Its attempts to clamp down on free speech could
well be a response to the citizens’ increased awareness and assertion of their rights
and the resilience of the media in the face of all odds.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010

9

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