Election officials gathered more than 150 reporters at Hotel Africana for special training sessions. The Electoral Commission wanted journalists to learn about Special Interest Group voting rules and procedures. These elections cover youth, older people, disabled persons, workers, and military members. Commission spokesman Julius Mucunguzi said these elections have different steps from regular voting. Media workers need to understand the legal framework before they can report properly.
Uganda held SIG elections across over 10,500 parishes and 71,000 villages recently. Most polling stations saw peaceful voting with people following election laws correctly. Some areas experienced violent fights between supporters during the process. Electoral officials condemned all violence and said it should never happen during voting. Commission lawyer Abubaker Kayondo stressed that peaceful elections help Uganda maintain a good reputation worldwide.
Trainers spent major time teaching reporters how to fight fake news and misinformation. They showed journalists practical tools for checking if digital content was real or fake. The training covered source verification and recent examples of false information campaigns. Mucunguzi warned that artificial intelligence can create fake voices and images that look real. Reporters must return to basic fact-checking skills to avoid spreading lies.
The Electoral Commission promised continued partnership with news media after this training session. Officials plan more workshops and meetings to improve election coverage quality. Journalists welcomed the program as helpful for strengthening democratic processes. This enhanced media training will help inform voters during future parliamentary and presidential elections.
Uganda held SIG elections across over 10,500 parishes and 71,000 villages recently. Most polling stations saw peaceful voting with people following election laws correctly. Some areas experienced violent fights between supporters during the process. Electoral officials condemned all violence and said it should never happen during voting. Commission lawyer Abubaker Kayondo stressed that peaceful elections help Uganda maintain a good reputation worldwide.
Trainers spent major time teaching reporters how to fight fake news and misinformation. They showed journalists practical tools for checking if digital content was real or fake. The training covered source verification and recent examples of false information campaigns. Mucunguzi warned that artificial intelligence can create fake voices and images that look real. Reporters must return to basic fact-checking skills to avoid spreading lies.
The Electoral Commission promised continued partnership with news media after this training session. Officials plan more workshops and meetings to improve election coverage quality. Journalists welcomed the program as helpful for strengthening democratic processes. This enhanced media training will help inform voters during future parliamentary and presidential elections.
