1. Building Media Capacity for Compassionate Refugee Coverage
In July 2023, SIGNIS Africa organized a transformative conference and workshop in Kampala, in conjunction with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The aim was to empower Catholic media professionals to deliver more compassionate, humane reporting on migrants and refugees.
- Sessions emphasized the need to move beyond dry, sensationalist reporting; participants called for respectful, empathetic storytelling that carries dignity alongside facts.
- A highlight was an immersive visit to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, allowing media practitioners to engage directly with refugees, listen to their stories, and shape draft guidelines for Catholic media on sensitive coverage of human mobility.
- Prominent voices included Cardinal Michael Czerny, with his Vatican message advocating for communication grounded in respect and dialogue, and Bishop Emmanuel Badejo’s call for “an African lexicon” free from harmful stereotypes
2. Strengthening Uganda’s Catholic Media Infrastructure
SIGNIS supports national Church-run communications hubs. In Uganda, this digital infrastructure is highlighted by the establishment of Uganda Catholic Television (UCTV):
- Initially conceptualized in 2018, testing began in 2020. By June 2023, UCTV formally launched, offering national broadcasts including news, evanglelical content, live papal events, and educational programming
- The central studio in Nsambya works alongside regional sub-stations in Mbarara, Tororo, Gulu, and Lira—ensuring a broad and inclusive reach across the country
3. SIGNIS Uganda and Broader Communications Network
SIGNIS maintains a guiding role within Uganda’s Catholic communications framework via Uganda Episcopal Conference’s Social Communications Department, which holds membership in the broader SIGNIS Africa community
4. Guiding Media through Leadership & Representation
Noteworthy individuals such as Sr. Professor Dominica Dipio of Makerere University merge academic, film, and Church media expertise. She’s served as a judge at international film forums appointing Uganda’s voice in broader SIGNIS-related cultural discourse
Bringing It All Together
From trainings and immersive workshops to the launch of a nationwide Catholic TV station, SIGNIS’s activities in Uganda showcase an inspired blend of capacity building, infrastructure development, and theological-cultural leadership. These projects underscore its ongoing mission: to help Catholic media transform cultures through dignified, inclusive communication rooted in Gospel values.
