Should politicians fund journalists associations? No

The Shs150 million "donated" by President Yoweri Museveni to the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has caused no small stir in the journalism fraternity and society as a whole.

Interestingly, it is the UJA bosses who "reminded" the President about his pledge of Shs100m to the association ten years ago, which he promptly increased to Shs150 million.

Questions are now being asked as to how the UJA will objectively and independently cover the President and his government while enjoying their bounty at the same time. Will this be or rather will it not be a classical case of the proverbial he who pays the piper calls the tunes?

While hosting the scribes at a dinner in Kampala over the weekend, the President dismissed the claims of influencing the UJA, saying even Uganda receives lots of money from Europe but the country has maintained its independence and sovereignty. (Yes, but there are many things the President cannot do due to fear of how the donors will react!)

While it’s true the UJA needs funds for its activities, I personally feel uncomfortable about the scribes body soliciting and receiving cash directly from politicians. After the money has been spent and eaten away, I believe journalists would feel very guilty if he/she wrote a negative story about a benefactor.

It is generally known and agreed that in a modern democracy, the Media is the 4th Estate, a watchdog keeping an wary eye on the goings on in society. It is therefore not proper and outright wrong for the media to accept offers from powerful politicians, which will obviously compromise its independence and objectivity.