Published on 24/07/2024
Lawmakers on the Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) expressed concern over the declining quality of content produced by Vision Group media outlets, suggesting that some of it borders on tabloid reporting.
Nathan Itungo (Kashari South) led the complaints, citing an example from July 3, 2024, when New Vision published a headline alleging that top politicians in Uganda were involved in fraudulent loan acquisitions from the Microfinance Support Center. However, the article failed to mention any identities or particulars of the politicians involved.
“I am concerned about the message you put in New Vision. There was a time we had a paper called Red Pepper, which was known for selling sensational headlines. Recently, the stories in New Vision seem to follow a similar trend. On July 3rd, there was a story about the Microfinance Support Centre giving money to politicians, but no politicians were named. What kind of quality is that? What are you insinuating by talking about politicians, especially in the house of politicians? Look at the headline; it’s more like the former Red Pepper,” remarked Itungo.
Medard Sseggona, Chairperson of COSASE, cautioned Itungo against making references to Red Pepper, as the company was not present to defend itself. However, Sseggona also raised concerns about the quality of journalism at Vision Group, stating that sometimes it portrays the company as “enemies of the state.”
“I will overrule you on referencing a paper that isn’t here to defend its reputation. I didn’t want to delve deep into the quality of reporting, but sometimes you become enemies of the state. MPs are saying you mentioned top politicians benefiting from a fraudulent scheme without providing names or facts. What message are you sending about your leaders?” remarked Sseggona (Busiro East).
In response to the MPs’ concerns during the July 18, 2024 meeting, Don Wanyama, Chief Executive Officer of Vision Group, emphasized that the company adheres to a strict editorial policy guiding its publications. He asserted that Vision Group focuses on objectivity, accuracy, and balance, which is why many studies have recognized it as one of the most professional media houses in Uganda.
“Generally, Vision Group journalism is among the most professional in the country. Our platforms are leaders in their spaces because we do things right. Occasionally, editors and journalists may get facts wrong or not source stories well. That is a hazard of the trade, but we are professional enough to acknowledge our mistakes,” said Wanyama.
Sseggona, however, was not satisfied with Wanyama’s explanation. He recalled an incident where New Vision published an online story claiming that a government agency had stolen money, leading to the cancellation of a €2 million grant the agency was expecting from international funders.
“You published a story about a sensitive institution in Uganda, claiming they had stolen money. This story was published on your online platform. The entity was due to receive a €2 million grant, and your publication led to the withdrawal of that grant. We had to write from Parliament and submit transcriptions and video recordings of the Committee to clarify that it wasn’t our finding. It took considerable effort to have the freeze lifted,” said Sseggona.
Wanyama responded by noting that Vision Group produces numerous stories daily, and occasional errors are inevitable. He assured that the team is professional enough to acknowledge and rectify mistakes.
“If we get facts wrong, we clarify and issue apologies. Errors are not usually deliberate. The nature of the business means we may get some facts wrong, but we always strive to fix them once we have the correct information,” added Wanyama.
