KAS Calls for Stronger Partnerships to Build Resilient Media in Uganda
“The resilience of Uganda’s media sector will depend increasingly on stronger partnerships and collaboration among newsrooms, civil society, government and development partners.” – Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
Speaking at the official opening of the 4th Annual Editors Convention held from 30 July to 2 August, 2026, Mr. Peter Koch, Interim Country Director of KAS Uganda, said collaboration across the media ecosystem is essential to strengthening journalism and enabling media professionals to respond collectively to the challenges facing the industry.
“Media resilience relies on partnerships,” Koch told editors, newsroom leaders and other stakeholders gathered for the convention.
He emphasised the importance of coordination among journalists and media organisations, noting that collaboration creates opportunities for professionals and institutions to learn from one another, build mutual respect and grow together.
For Koch, strengthening the media therefore requires looking beyond individual newsrooms and creating stronger relationships among the different actors whose work contributes to a healthy information ecosystem.
The call comes at a time when media organisations are navigating multiple pressures, including changing business models, rapid technological developments and evolving information environments. Against this backdrop, collaboration can provide opportunities for media professionals to share experiences, strengthen professional practice and collectively identify responses to emerging challenges.
Building a regional media conversation
Koch also encouraged the Uganda Editors’ Guild (UEG) to strengthen regional collaboration by actively involving editors and media professionals from neighbouring countries, particularly Kenya and Tanzania, in future editions of the Editors Convention.
He said bringing media professionals from across the region together would provide valuable opportunities to exchange experiences, learn from different approaches and strengthen journalism beyond national boundaries.
For UEG, the proposal presents an opportunity to position the Editors Convention not only as a national platform for dialogue among Uganda’s senior editors, but also as a space for regional exchange on issues affecting the media industry.
Greater engagement among East African media leaders could help editors share lessons on common challenges, including media sustainability, editorial independence, journalist safety, technological disruption and the changing relationship between media and audiences.
Such exchanges could also strengthen professional networks among editors and create opportunities for collaborative approaches to challenges that increasingly transcend national borders.
KAS reaffirms commitment to press freedom
Koch reaffirmed KAS’s commitment to promoting and supporting press freedom, assuring participants that the organisation remains open to partnerships with the media on initiatives that advance independent journalism.
His remarks underscored the importance of sustained engagement between development partners and media organisations in supporting an environment where journalists can perform their public-interest role effectively and independently.
The partnership approach, he noted, should be grounded in learning, mutual respect and a shared commitment to strengthening the media sector.
The 4th Annual Editors Convention brought together editors, newsroom leaders, media stakeholders and partners to deliberate on issues affecting the future of journalism and media viability.
Koch concluded by wishing participants fruitful deliberations and a successful convention, while reaffirming the importance of continued cooperation in building a stronger and more resilient media sector.
For the Uganda Editors’ Guild, the call for greater collaboration reinforces the value of convening editors and media stakeholders to share knowledge, strengthen professional networks and collectively advance editorial independence and a resilient media industry.
