By Gladys Mukisa
A section of the Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) members has resolved to break away from their main organization, exposing more cracks into its internal governance system including internal democracy.
The decision follows a bitter row between the UJU General Secretary (GS) Stephen Bwire Ouma and some organization’s members, arising from a litany of accusations against Ouma.
Accusations range from the alleged organization mismanagement under which the GS treats it as his cash cow to greed, selfishness, lack of transparency, intrigue, hypocrisy and its personalization as an inherent property with unfettered control and sense of self entitlement.
Born of this conflict according to UJU members is what has come to be described as greed for money by the organization’s GS that saw him mooting the removal of his team leaders from several Executive Committee positions through the disputed January, 11, 2026, elective delegates conference, for attempting to challenge his sprawling double standing regarding the organization’s decision on the January 19, 2026 worker’s MP election.
This news Website can exclusively report that some of the removed leaders had attempted to participate in an impugned election for lack of no choice, but shortly after chose to withdrawal their candidature upon learning that it was not free and fair. They included among others, Kenneth Arereng, Goodluck Musinguzi, Zurah Nakabugo, Rose Namale, Lucy Anyango Ekadu and Philip Corry.
It has since then emerged that the disputed funds were from the National Female Workers’ MP elect Fiona Nakku who was aiming to unseat the incumbent Agnes Abwooli Kunihira that the entire Executive Committee team had unanimously informally agreed to support, to Ouma, before he could shift his loyalty based on a changed mind.
It is now understood that a new journalists union will be launched by several members led by the dropped immediate UJU Executive Committee leaders as soon as the ongoing registration process with relevant government agencies is complete.
The organization in offing according to the sources, will use as its new office the vacated UJU office space in Ntinda-Kigoowa since it is a free offer aimed at fostering an excellence among the nascent labor unions.
The members also accuse MP Nakku of monetization the Worker’s election to the point of fomenting confusion in UJU.
Some observers say the breakaway of some UJU members into a new formation from it may escalate its dormancy in an advocacy space for the journalist’s economic rights.
Our efforts to seek a comment from MP Nakku were futile.
However, when reached for response, UJU GS Ouma described his critics as mere disgruntled members suffering from an election outcome.” The people you are referring to attended the QDC and they lost the elections. They first withdrew their candidature for positions indicating they feared defeat”. He said.
Ouma defended his impugned elective delagates conference (QDC), boasting that UJU had the most democratic, transparent, free and fair election ever witnessed in the Ugandan labor fraternity.
He also defended Nakku on claims of worker’s election monetizing with money bags. “Why do they think their candidate (Agnes Kunihira) did not use money in campaigns but her opponent (Fiona) who won the election used money?”, Ouma questioned.
