A decisive majority of Ugandans back media freedom and want journalists to hold public officials accountable, according to a newly released report by research network Afrobarometer.
The survey findings show that 82% of citizens believe the country’s media should constantly investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption. Furthermore, 70% of respondents expressed support for press freedom, opposing government intervention or censorship over news content.
Despite ongoing concerns from rights groups over legal restrictions and the safety of reporters during election cycles, 67% of Ugandans surveyed feel the media is currently “somewhat” or “completely free” to operate without state interference.
The data also underlines the unmatched reach of broadcast audio in the country; 77% of Ugandans rely on radio as their primary news source at least a few times a week. By comparison, television attracts 37% of regular news consumers, while social media and digital platforms stand at 23% and 19% respectively.
Although Uganda improved 12 places to rank 131st out of 180 countries on the 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index, media advocates maintain that the absence of a dedicated access-to-information framework continues to hamper investigative reporting across the nation.
–ChannelAfrica/Afrobarometer–
