Journalists in Kigezi Urged to Combat Identity Politics for Regional Development

Rukungiri: Journalists in the Kigezi subregion have been urged to take an active role in combating identity politics, which has hindered the region’s development.

This call was made by the President of Ugandans Below 40 Years (UB40), Dr. Jude Katerega, during a media symposium held on November 9 at Rukungiri Inn Gardens located in Rukungiri municipality.

The symposium, attended by journalists from across Kigezi, was themed “Encouraging Ugandans to Desist from Identity Politics through Awareness Creation by Information Managers”.

Dr. Katerega encouraged the media to fight against identity-based politics, which has stifled progress in many countries. He emphasized the importance of understanding the nation’s history to cultivate informed leaders capable of addressing Uganda’s unique challenges.

The campaign was launched in the Kigezi sub region due to the high prevalence of identity politics, especially along religious lines between Catholics and Anglicans, as well as tribal affiliations. Dr. Katerega stressed that many leaders exploit these divisions, which impedes the region’s growth and results in unqualified individuals taking up leadership roles.

He also urged journalists to engage in wealth creation by venturing into entrepreneurship. According to him, journalists should not just inform the public but also contribute to the economy by creating wealth, helping to increase the percentage of Ugandans actively participating in the economy, currently at 68%.

The Minister for Security Retired Major General Jim Muhwezi Katugugu, and chief guest at the symposium, reinforced these ideas. He called on journalists to expose individuals promoting sectarianism based on tribe, religion, gender, or political affiliation. 

He emphasized that identity politics creates divisions and urged journalists to focus on the real challenges facing communities, promoting unity and patriotism through fair and accurate reporting.