CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Qualitative, independent media reporting on corruption can play an important role in pressuring the government to act in the public interest. By drawing the attention to behaviour that is generally perceived as acceptable and exposing such behaviour as corrupt media can raise public awareness, activate anti-corruption values and generate outside pressure from the public against corruption (Rose Ackerman, 1999). The impact of media reporting on corruption can be “tangible” and “intangible” (Stapenburst, 2000). It is tangible when some sort of visible outcome can be attributed to a particular news story or series of stories for instance, the launching of investigation by authorities, the scrapping of a law or policy promoting opportunities for corruption, the impeachment or forced resignation of a crooked politician, the firing of an official, the launching of judicial proceedings, the issuing of public recommendations by a watchdog body and so on. It is intangible when checks on corruption arise. From the broader social climate of enhance political pluralism, enlivened public debate and a heightened sense of accountability among politicians, public bodies and institutions that are inevitable by the product of a hard hitting, independent news media.
How well media can perform the role of watchdog on corruption, however, depends on a number of factors defined by the politicians, economic and legal environment in which media operates. Media freedom of expression access to information ownership competition, credibility and outreach are some of the key factors that have been identified as effecting the quality and effectiveness of media performance on corruption (Vogi, 1999, Djankov, 2000 Stapenburst, 2000, Ahrend, 2002, Brunetti and Weder, 2003, Suphachalasai, 2005). This paper will review how these factors can affect the role and performance of media in curbing corruption and relate that discussion to Uganda during president musevenis no “party” rule between 1986 and 2006. The paper will examine how the political and institutional changes that occurred during those years have redefined the boundaries of media’s performance, how and to what extent media were able to exercise a role as a watchdog on corruption within those boundaries and what are the prospects for a more institutionalized role of media in that regard in the future. The paper will first discuss the type of impact that media can have on corruption and the factors affecting that performance. It will then focus on three main periods under Museveni’s “no party” system during which important political and institutional changes took place that affected the role and performance of media in (significant ways 1).
The transition and consolidation of the new regime and the establishment of “no party” or “movement” system (1986 – 1995) the entering into effect of the new constitution and the first presidential and parliamentary elections (1996 2001 and 3). The transition to a multi-party system (2001 – 2006) media can play an important public accountability role by monitoring and investigating the actions of those who are granted public trust and who may be tempted to abuse their office for private gain (Eigen, 1999). In the media’s role in curbing corruption Rick Stapenhurst provides a useful list of tangible and intangible affects that aggressive and independent journalism can have on corruption (Stapenhurst, 2000). This list provides a useful tool to assess the role and effectiveness of media as an instrument of public accountability in Uganda, which will be used throughout this paper.
Tangible effects are those that can be readily attributed to a particular news story or series of news stories for example, the launching of investigations by the parliament or other authorities into allegations of corruption the censure, impeachment or forced resignation of corrupt politicians, the firing of public officers, the launching of judicial proceedings, the issuing of public recommendations by a watchdog body. The scrapping of a law or policy that creates an environment conducive or even contributing to corruption. Media coverage of corruption might also contribute to shape public hostility towards corrupt behaviour that might result in the electoral defeat of individual politicians or of an entire government and laws that otherwise create the conditions for corrupt behaviour. News stories assessing the work and exposing flaws, weakness and even corruption in accountability institutions, such as courts, police and anti-corruption agencies might lead to public pressure to reform these institutions.
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