SECTOR 2 others. The President himself has at times called the editors to complain about certain stories. Such interference does, of course, have a chilling effect on editors and reporters. Human rights reporting, for example, is weak in the paper because the “big man does not want such stories”. Human rights reporting..... the “big man does not want such stories”. The minister of finance, as the majority shareholder on behalf of the government, appoints the board of the newspaper, which in turn appoints the editor and decides on the editorial policy. Sometimes the board, which has two members representing minority shareholders, cannot do much to ensure a level of editorial independence. It is to be expected that the space for such independence will narrow even more as Uganda is heading for elections in 2011. For all the pressures New Vision faces, it is still a more credible and respectable newspaper than most government-owned papers in Africa. It keeps publishing some hard-hitting editorials, say against corruption. One editorial in February 2010, for example, said the country was sinking under the weight of corruption. 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: 36 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010 1.9 (2007: 2.6)