The Role of the Press in Free and Fair Elections in Uganda: A Case Study of Daily Monitor News Paper

Abstract

The media is an essential component of any democratic election. This is illustrated in a way that keeps voters informed about the policies and agendas of different political parties and contenders. Until voters are aware of each candidate's position on every issue, they will not be able to completely exercise their right to vote. Conversely, the media can aid voters in their self-education by providing a comparative analysis of important issues. Numerous individuals have viewed the media's above-mentioned job as idealistic and unachievable, asserting that regular reporting on events is rife with "fake news" and falls short of the criteria of superior journalism. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the coded data, and information was generated and presented in the form of graphs, tables, and charts exhibiting frequencies and percentages. The study suggests that false news has existed since the internet's prehistory and is prevalent today. It highlights the negative impact of false news on media organizations, leading to credibility loss and costly investigations. Despite ethical journalism rules, media organizations face threats of closure or censorship. The general population is a significant source of fake news. False news in Uganda leads to various consequences, such as media organization closure, damage to brand reputation, and mistrust of news industries. It can also cause underdevelopment, increased demonstrations, hatred, and even innocent deaths. Despite adhering to ethical journalism rules, media organizations face threats of closure or censorship. False news in media organizations can lead to credibility loss, costly investigations, and threats of closure or censorship, while the general population is a significant source, causing incidents like demonstrations, hatred, deaths, and celebrity reputation damage. Key words: Media, Democracy, Citizenship, Marketization, Election.