SECTOR 4 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: 2.1 (2012 = 2.2; 2010 = 2.4; 2007 = 2.8) 4.5 Journalists and media houses have integrity and are not corrupt. Corruption in the media has become normalised in Uganda, with many organisations being unaware that paying journalists, “facilitation fees”, “transportation expenses”, and so forth in order to cover a story (favourably) is tantamount to corruption. Generally, people overlook the idea that paying such fees to the media could result in subjective reporting; when the media has an obligation to report objectively in being accountable to the public. A panellist from civil society noted that, “Most NGOs and civil society organisations have budgets for public relations, and when they (media practitioners) come, we arrange eats and drinks, and may support them with a transport fee, etc., but now we work with a PR company to sort out the facilitation fees to journalists.” Another added that, “We have had situations where we’ve told them that we don’t pay facilitation fees, but then no one turns up.” “There is a range in terms of what is paid. The more you pay, the greater the chances are that your story will be run. Along with other associations, we have agreed on a fee of 30,000 shillings (USD 8.93).” This problem is not unique to the media industry, and is a reflection of what is happening in broader society. “We have a problem in this country with regards to facilitation. It’s not secluded to journalism. If you have any meeting, people are signing for transport refunds. But it’s also true that there are journalists asking for it.” “The payment of certain fees in Uganda has become an embedded thing and is just the way of doing things. Transport refunds are a countrywide accepted practice. But part of the problem in the industry is when you call journalists, you AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2016 69