Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere speaks on the misuse of media

Archbishop Ssemogerere speaks on the misuse of media.

The Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese His Grace Paul Ssemogerere has spoken about the rising misuse and abuse of media and sites of social communication.

Delivering his homily yesterday 14th May 2023 during the liturgical celebration for the 57th World’s Social Communications Day that was hosted and celebrated at a national level by Kampala archdiocese at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lubaga kampala; he expressed a sincere concern about how ugandans are using media to humiliate, disrespect others and promote immorality hence going astray of the best expectations of using social media.

He called upon catholics and all other communicators to develop a cordial way of communication and said “we can influence hardened hearts to open”. “Friendly conversations can open a breach even in the most hardened of hearts”, he added.

Archbishop Ssemogerere continued and that at the same time, those who read or listen to communicators who disseminate information through cordial communication, are led to participate in the “joys, fears, hopes and suffering of the women and men of our time”.

According to the prelate, contemporary society is known and realized through polarizations and contrasts, a situation in which he laments. Expounding on the theme of the celebration; “speaking with the heart, the truth in love” given by Pope Francis for the 57th World’s Social Communications Day official celebration date 21st May 2023, extracted from St. Paul’s letter to Ephesians 4:15, the Archbishop said that all Christians should not be afraid of proclaiming the truth even if it is at times uncomfortable, also asking all leaders and the public to respect media practioners, not taking them as enemies for the work they do to publish the truth, instead the public should accept the truth to bring about a good change in behavior and administration for prosperity and spiritual renewal.

At this celebration was Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzelli, the Chairman of the commission of social communications, Uganda Episcopal conference who also called for a renewed collaboration and cooperation among catholic media practitioners in Uganda.

He urgued communicators to have a change of mind and heart to ensure that the information they give may nourish the hearts of the people saying all can only be realized through commitment and collaboration.

Rev. Fr. Philip Odii, the executive secretary of social communications, Uganda Catholic Secretariat announced the much and long awaited Uganda Catholic Television UCTV that will officially be launched on 3rd June 2023, at Namugongo during the forthcoming Uganda martyrs day celebration thanking all the church leaders and all catholics for praying and supporting this project of the entire catholic church in Uganda that will help in boasting works of the church all across Uganda.

Honorable Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Thomas Tayebwa who was an invited Chief Guest urgued the church to preach about peace and reconciliation and speak against bigotry, intolerance and xenophobic media messages and all the public abuse of the means of social communications especially social media.

“The government of Uganda has given its nationals freedom of speech but in response, Ugandans are using the freedoms to misuse social media to abuse leaders especially the President H.E Yoweri K. Museveni which is really the opposite of the intention of having social communication platforms and the freedom of speech and he asked for change from all ugandans especially catholic social communicators and all media users.

Among the present guests and other religious leaders was the Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to Beligium Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, media and commucations representatives from all Diocese’s in Uganda under the four Archdiocese in Uganda namely Kampala , Mbarara, Gulu and Tororo archdioceses where Gulu archdiocese is expected to host the 58th Social communication celebrations in 2024.