Museveni Directs NRM MPs to Leverage Media to Neutralise Opposition
President Yoweri Museveni instructed newly-elected NRM MPs and the Ministry of ICT to start engaging media so that can draw light on the ruling party’s achievements which will in turn help neutralize the opposition.
The president, who is also the party’s chairman, noted that working in silence is no longer an effective method.
"Our revolutionary method of silently doing things should stop and we adopt a new way of communicating our achievements," he said Monday to the lawmakers currently ongoing a three-week retreat in Kyakwanzi.
"The previous narrative of 'we shall know them by their fruits' should end and we forge a way out."
That being said, President Museveni tasked the new MPs to make it a habit of appearing on local vocabulary radio and television stations in their respective communities to communicate to the residents about the progress of government programs.
Museveni noted that the approach was cheaper and more effective compared to other channels of communication like newspapers and television stations.
"I remember, it is the same approach I used in the just concluded elections while campaigning yet the opposition candidates were busy exposing Ugandans to coronavirus by holding mass rallies," he said.
He also instructed the ICT ministry to create a standby commission to work with other government agencies up to district level to always be on duty to communicate government programmes and also counter opposition lies whenever they emerge.
Museveni says that government shall also build a national communication network through empowering and facilitating Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and NRM Public Secretaries to regularly appear on radio and other media platforms at least once a month to explain and update locals about government plans and other issues.
President Museveni mentioned some of the issues like land grabbing, poor roads, electricity which affect the people. The ICT ministry was also directed to audit the exiting media industry to streamline it and deal with those that misbehave and constantly tell lies yet are not held accountable.
Government Spokesperson and Executive Director Uganda Media Centre Ofwono Opondo urged MPs to interest themselves in constant reading and doing research to speak on an informed point and avoid embarrassment while appearing on any media talk show.
He noted that this would help the NRM party to recapture positive public opinion and restore public confidence in the country's stability and progress, both domestically and internationally.
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