The Uganda Law Society has honoured journalist Dorothy Doreen Nalumansi for what lawyers and media advocates described as fearless reporting during Uganda’s tense 2026 general elections.
Nalumansi, a senior political reporter and Head of Digital at Newswift Publications, was recognised during the 13th RNB Live public engagement held on May 7 at ULS House on John Babiiha Road as part of activities to mark World Press Freedom Day.
For more than 120 days, Nalumansi covered the National Unity Platform presidential campaign trail, documenting rallies, security operations and voter mobilisation exercises across the country. Her work, colleagues said, came amid repeated intimidation, threats and harassment directed at journalists covering opposition politics.
Speaking during the event, ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde praised Nalumansi for remaining committed to public-interest journalism despite the risks.
“Dorothy represents the kind of journalism that democracy depends on — courageous, persistent and people-centred,” Ssemakadde said in remarks delivered at the event represented by the acting secretary Babu Ssali. “When journalists continue reporting in the face of intimidation, they defend not only press freedom but the public’s right to know.”
He added that Uganda’s democratic future depended on protecting journalists from violence and arbitrary interference while carrying out their work.
Nalumansi told participants that passion for journalism kept her motivated despite the difficult conditions she encountered during the campaigns.
“It’s the passion for journalism that keeps me going. Amidst the intimidation, the violations, it’s the passion for journalism that keeps me going,” she said.
She also encouraged more women to take up frontline reporting, saying female journalists often gain access to spaces and sources that may be difficult for male reporters to reach.
“We need as many female journalists as possible. Sometimes there are places a male may not be able to access, but it will be easy for a female journalist,” she added.
The Chief Executive Officer of News Swift Publication, Mr Derrick Wandera, described Nalumansi as disciplined and consultative in her reporting approach.
“Dorothy stood out in the way she did her work. She was very consultative. She was always seeking advice from us,” Wandera said.
The recognition comes against the backdrop of repeated clashes between security agencies and journalists during Uganda’s election cycles. In both the 2021 and 2026 elections, local and international media organisations documented arrests, assaults and confiscation of equipment targeting reporters covering opposition campaigns and protests.
The 2021 elections in particular were marred by violence following the arrest of opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, with dozens of civilians killed during nationwide unrest. Several journalists covering the protests and subsequent campaigns reported beatings, detentions and restrictions on movement.
Media rights advocates say conditions improved slightly in some areas during the 2026 polls. Still, intimidation, surveillance and online harassment remained widespread, especially for female journalists and reporters attached to opposition campaigns.
According to the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ-Uganda) 2024 report, press freedom in Uganda remains under severe pressure, categorised by rising violations, with 110 documented cases of abuse against journalists. Security forces, particularly police, are the primary perpetrators. The 2024 index shows a challenging, “slippery” environment for media, characterised by assaults, arrests, and harassment.
At the RNB Live engagement, ULS Head of Rule of Law, Apio Afrua, reiterated the Society’s commitment to defending media freedom, saying that an independent press remained essential to accountability and the protection of human rights.
On Press Freedom in the Contemporary African State of Affairs, Mr. Peter Bernhardt, an international lawyer and Government Advisor said, “Press freedom is also essential for African sovereignty. Many governments see critical journalism as destabilising, but the opposite is often true. Without credible local journalism, citizens begin to depend on foreign narratives, social media influencers replace professional reporters, and trust in institutions collapses. If Africa does not control its own information space, others will control it instead.
Meanwhile, Irene Abalo of the AfriMedia Training Institute pointed to security concerns and domestic pressures that continue discouraging many women from pursuing frontline political reporting.
Closing the event, Acting Secretary Ssali Babu said the recognition should inspire Nalumansi to continue pursuing impactful journalism.
“This should give you the courage and should push you forward because recognition is not one to push you into retirement but one that gives you zeal, commitment and courage to actually push more,” Babu said.
The event featured discussions on press freedom, human rights and the growing role of women journalists in Uganda’s evolving media landscape.
