Media Football Gala: How it has fostered Advocacy for Bruised Press Freedom.

On Sunday May 4th 2025, the 3rd Edition of the annual Media Football Gala organized by the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) was held in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) that falls on 3rd May annually.

As an innovative tool that was adopted in 2022 to foster and deepen the press freedom advocacy, the Gala has been seen bringing together different key stakeholders across all the sectors to explore solutions and mechanisms to the growing threats against the press freedom and journalism, hence creating a significant impact to the Uganda’s press freedom landscape.

The WPFD Media Football Gala 3rd Edition was held at Kitante Primary School Play Ground in Kampala city. Notable key participating stake holders were the journalists from different media and non-media platforms, judicial officers from the Uganda’s judiciary, members of parliament from the Uganda parliament, players from the private and public business and non- business entities/bodies, political organizations, ordinary members of the public, among others.

The Gala was officially opened by the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board head of communications Jackline Kamakune who represented the Regulatory body’s executive director Denis Mudene Ngabirano.

Kamakune who was flanked by the UJA president Mathis Rukundo, secretary general Emmanuel Kirunda, head of events Joseph Kwizera and His Worship Martin Kirya from the Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA), encouraged journalists to always rally behind their umbrella organization as it will enhance solidarity amongst them, hence easing their personal development and protection whenever their work is under attack.

The WPFD Media Football Gala 3rd Edition attracted sponsorship from the UJA partners; National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board and Corporate Sports Network.

Kamakune explained that the journalists are some of the key advocates for responsible betting one of their statutory duties, that is why they partnered with UJA to deepen the same to foster sustainable development among the citizenry.

UJA President Mathias Rukundo described sport as unifier, explaining that since the Media Football Gala was adopted by UJA has helped them a lot with enhancing unity amongst journalists and media practitioners with all relevant stake holders with the duty of protecting and promoting press freedom, state and non-state actors including the corporate organizations, government institutions, business actors and the general public.

He used the WPFD Media Football Gala 3rd Edition to call for an end of the acts of violations against press freedom including persistent physical assaults and mishandling by the members of security forces.

Rukundo thanked all the UJA partners for extending support that went along way in promoting the media and national development. He equally thanked the media and non- media organizations for always supporting the cause of defending and promoting the press freedom by participating un waveringly.

Like the 1st and 2nd Editions, the WPFD Media Football Gala 3 rd Edition was held under a seven asidecompetition format. Twenty-two (22) teams participated in the Gala. It was closed by the retired Brig. Shaban Lukyamuzi who handed over the trophies to the winners.

The Church of Uganda Media Association (CHOUMA) emerged victorious after defeating KBS TV with 3 goals against 1 on finale. The winning CHOUMA team walked away with a big trophy(cup), a large goat and gold medals, while the KBS TV with silver medals.

On semifinal, KBS TV defeated Umbrella with 6 goals against 5 in a penalty shootout, while CHOUMA beat the Family Radio with 1 goal against 0. CHOUMA’s main sponsor was the CBS FM Radio.

CBS FM Radio editors Davis Joel Ddungu and Annet Nalubwama on behalf of CHOUMA and CBS administration thanked UJA for bringing journalists together through the annual WPFD Media Football Gala Editions. They saluted CHOUMA for adding value on their support by emerging victorious.

One of the CHOUMA team players Joel Kiyengo thanked UJA for the good organization before he could attribute their success to the team work. The 4 th Edition will be held in May 2026.

Herewith are the Football Teams that Participated in the WPFD Media Football Gala 3 rd Edition:

NEW VISION, UGANDA JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION FC, BUKEDDE, UGANDA AIRLINES, METRO FM RADIO, GUGUDDE TV, IMPACT FM, KBS TV, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION OF UGANDA(EJAU), KAMPALA BEST PHOTOGRAPHS, REST TV, ENTERTAINMENT COMMANDERS, UGANDA JUDICIAL ASSOCIATION (UJOA), UMBRELLA, FAMILY FM, MEDIA CHALLENGE INITIATIVE, UMCAT SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, CBS FM 88.8, UGANDA PARLIAMENTARY PRESS ASSOCIATION(UPPA), CHURCH OF UGANDA MEDIA ASSOCIATION (CHOUMA), HOPE CHANNEL and OKWERA FOUNDATION.