SECTOR 2

Etop, Rupiny, and Bukedde - are growing in circulation. One reason could be that a
copy of Daily Monitor or New Vision goes for Shs1,200 compared to, for example,
Bukedde, which sells for Shs800.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator.

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score: 			

2.8

(2007: 2.8)

2.4
The editorial independence of print media
published by a public authority is protected adequately
against undue political interference
Analysis:

Section 18 (b) of the New Vision Printing and Publishing Corporation Statute 1987
says:
In the carrying out of its functions and in particular the function of
publishing the Government Newspapers, the board shall have as
its editorial policy … to voice public opinion and criticisms of a given 		
Government policy in a fair and objective manner without becoming
an institutional opponent to the Government or its interests.
This statute was drawn up when the government was still the sole owner of The
New Vision. While it is no longer a corporation but a company listed on the stock
exchange, with the government owning 53 percent of shares and the rest being in
public hands, the statute still holds. This means Section 18 (b) could be invoked
any time if the government saw fit to do so – even if the statute also makes some
provision for editorial independence.
In fact, there is undue political interference in the New Vision’s work even without
referring to the statute as the majority shareholder’s interests override those of

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010

35

Select target paragraph3