KAMPALA-Vice President, Jessica Alupo, has called upon journalists in Uganda to form SACCOs if they are to benefit from the government’s poverty alleviation programmes.
Alupo was addressing journalists at a symposium organised by her office at Kyambogo University.
“I ask you to ensure that your regional associations form SACCOs so that you are eligible for government programmes,” Alupo said, urging journalists in the country to unite
The journalists asked to be given affirmative action to benefit from the Parish Development model [PDM] programme, a request Alupo promised to push forward and urged journalists popularise the PDM.
“I will be your advocate and lobby relevant government offices to consider your views, but for now let’s continue disseminating the message of PDM among the population to ensure that they do not miss it,” she said.
She urged journalists to register their associations and have good people in leadership positions. “Please organise yourselves to be strong as a group,” Alupo noted.
She further advised the journalists to embrace commercial farming, noting that President Yoweri Museveni will soon embark on a countrywide regional tour to support farmers who engage in large-scale agriculture.
“It will be good if the President visits your farm as a journalist. Don’t think that you are too busy to farm. I also have a farm and rear animals. Recently, my cow gave birth to twins,” Alupo said.
Meanwhile, the journalists asked the vice president to ensure that the minimum wage bill now pending for years in Parliament is passed into law, saying it would help improve their welfare.
Many journalists complained that the absence of the law makes several employers exploit them by paying meagre salaries at the end of the month.
However, Alupo urged the journalists to be patient, noting that the minimum wage bill still has pending issues to be answered before it is passed into law. “The issue of low pay of journalists is an institutional matter, but you can use your associations to advocate for better pay for all the Journalists across the country,” Alupo noted.
The five-day symposium which ends on February 11, 2023, has pulled close to 600 journalists across the country who are being taught patriotism. Museveni is expected to close the symposium.
https://thecooperator.news/journalists-ask-for-financial-literacy-training/
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