Lira City journalists urged to embrace poverty eradication programmes
LIRA CITY, June 9, 2026 — Journalists working in Lira City have been urged to embrace government poverty eradication programmes in order to improve the livelihoods of their households.
The call was made recently by Yusuf Muziransa, Communications Officer at the Equal Opportunities Commission [EOC], during an engagement meeting that brought together Lira City authorities and journalists at the Lira City Council Community Hall.
The government programmes aimed at reducing poverty include the Parish Development Model [PDM], Youth Livelihood Programme [YLP], Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme [UWEP], Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises [GROW] Project, Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation [OWC], among others.
Muziransa commended the programmes, saying they are helping to eradicate poverty by putting money directly into people’s hands.
“I want to tell you that I have been to places where a person had never touched Shs300,000. I also believe that in Lango there are people who had never handled one million shillings before and are doing so for the first time because of PDM. Can you then call that a bad programme?” Muziransa said.
However, he criticised journalists in the Lango sub-region for failing to take advantage of programmes such as the Parish Development Model, arguing that this contributes to inadequate reporting.
“We, as journalists, often think these programmes are not meant for us. There is a way we separate ourselves from society. You are supposed to be part of these programmes. You are not reporting on them properly because you are not beneficiaries. We should be among the first beneficiaries of government programmes. A broke journalist is not a good journalist because how can you report objectively when you are struggling financially?” he said.
Muziransa cited journalists in the Toro sub-region as an example, saying they have used their association to benefit from the GROW programme and have established income-generating projects.
“I was in the Toro sub-region and almost all journalists have benefited from GROW and other programmes. Some have piggery projects, poultry farms and other serious farming enterprises, yet you think the government only gives these programmes to rich people,” he said.
Patrick Okino, Chairperson of the Lango United Journalists Association, expressed concern about the lengthy process involved in accessing the funds.
“Despite your encouraging words, none of these journalists is unaware of PDM, Emyooga and the other programmes. The challenge is that the process sometimes takes too long,” Okino said.
“I personally did not apply, but my mother applied for PDM and it took almost two months for her to receive the money. That experience discouraged me from applying because the process is not straightforward, although you are encouraging us to participate.”
In response, Muziransa said journalists first need to understand the operational guidelines of the programmes in order to report on them effectively.
“My concern is not accessibility. My concern is whether we are familiar with the programmes. Can we take time to understand them? As an association of journalists, you can engage PDM officials and technical staff to explain the programmes to you first,” he said.
Meanwhile, Regina Lalam, a sports analyst at Radio QFM 94.3 FM in Lira City, said she had not applied for support under the GROW programme because one of the requirements is that beneficiaries must already be operating a business.
“I read the guidelines for GROW and realised that a woman must already be running a business to qualify. Since I was not in business, I could not apply,” Lalam said.
Ceasar Odongo, a news reporter at Radio Wa FM 89.8, said he was unable to benefit from PDM because he is not a resident of Lira City.
“When I wanted to apply for PDM, I was told that I had to be a member of the local community. That is why I could not access the funds,” Odongo said.
Rebecca Acen, the Principal Assistant Clerk of Lira City, who represented the City Clerk, urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the guidelines governing government programmes.
“As media practitioners, we should know these programmes at our fingertips because much of the information is expected to come through you. These programmes come with operational guidelines and, by the time beneficiaries receive the funds, our Community Development Department has already taken them through the programme requirements and procedures,” Acen said.
Lira Resident City Commissioner Lillian Eyal urged journalists to be patient when pursuing productive opportunities and to make decisions more quickly instead of delaying action.
She said this would encourage more people to take advantage of the programmes and improve their incomes.
“If an elderly woman can follow the bureaucratic processes involved in PDM and successfully access the funds, then surely, we can do the same. Sometimes other regions move ahead of us because we hesitate too much when making decisions. A programme is introduced and, instead of embracing it quickly, people delay and keep debating,” Eyal said.
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