January
had less PR scandals. This
article strictly offers academic insight meant to create awareness about crisis
PR management. Therefore it should be used for educational purposes and not
viewed as an attack on institutions or individuals. It offers a professional PR insight into
Crisis management in Uganda which is still a young profession. I hope that
Lessons shared can better the PR fraternity in Uganda. I commend the inclusion
of Best Crisis Management Award category in the PRAU Excellence Awards. PR
Practitioners need to be fully involved in crises from the start.
1) Uganda
police officer allegedly beats up journalist with an electric cable
Local
media reported about the Old Kampala Division Police Commander (DPC) Joram
Mwesigye who hit the WBS TV cameraman Andrew Lwanga with an electric cable while
on duty. This was during a protest march by youth activists under their
organization Unemployed Youth. His camera was not spared either. The journalist
was allegedly detained in a police cell after the incident despite the pain he
was going through. It was after other journalists intervened that he was then
rushed to a health facility. The incident pictures and videos went viral on
social media. This caused public outcry. Uganda police was again portrayed as inhuman.
The following day, journalists under their rights body, Human Rights Network for
Journalists Uganda (HRNJ-U) condemned actions by the DPC.Uganda Police
leadership came out and publicly apologized to the media fraternity which was
good PR. The incident raises questions on the type of training police officers
go through and their disciplinary mechanisms. The Uganda Police force spokesperson Fred Enanga said that actions of
individuals cannot be tagged on the entire force. This was a reassuring
positive message from the police.The DPC has since been arrested and arraigned in
court over the incident which was assign of goodwill from the Uganda police. Some
Kampala Lawyers pledged to offer free legal services to the battered journalist
2) Archbishop
of the Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali publicly refuted Luke Orombi‘s alleged
demon attacks.
The
mighty man of God publicly disagreed with his former predecessor over demons . Recently,
there were media reports indicating that retired Archbishop Rt Rev Luke Orombi
claimed to have been attacked by demons at Namirembe. This was a wrong move on
Ntagali's side to publicly disagree on a controversial issue. The Archbishop of
the Church of Uganda Stanley Ntagali publicly opposed claims by Christians
about the presence of demons and demonic attacks. Ntagali was preaching at the
8th West Ankole Youth convention at Bweranyangi in Bushenyi and said there
should not be any more talk of demonic attacks and presence among Christians. Archbishop
Ntagali’s responses caused mixed reactions among Christians. It was hard to
confirm what Archbishop Ntagalis response meant. Did he mean that there are no demons at all in the world? Or
demons are just psychological?
3) Katongole
omutongole alleged sexual scandal.
The
Bukedde Tv’s Full dose presenter Katongole was in news for alleged defilement. Katongole
Omutongole organized a press conference to respond to the issue. He distanced
himself from the incident. He also strategically came with his partner Titi.This
brought more credibility to the story. He also explained that he was happily
married with children. Katongole further explained how his wife means a lot to
him and why she is still with him even after all the false defilement
accusations.
4) Katumwa
alleged defilement
Kampala
Businessman Katumwa was arrested over alleged defilement and locked up at Katwe
Police station. He was later released pending investigations. The PR tactic he
did was to get media to listen to his side of the story.
5) Leaked
Sextape of Robin Mweruka
There
was a leaked sex video of allegedly Robinah Mweruka that went Viral on social
media platforms. She reads ‘Agataliko Nfufu news’ and hosts ‘the Omuntu
W’abantu show’ on Bukedde TV. The man in the Video was not allegedly her Husband.
It raises issues of adultery and reputation damage. The reputation of her workplace
and her personal image was dented.
Local
TV anchor Sanyu Robinah Mweruka finally came out to speak about her sextape and
rubbished the sextape as false. She has successfully cleaned her reputation and
storm is no more. Police took over the matter. There is little you can do about
a leaked sex tape. You either turn the sex tape issue into a PR stunt or keep quiet
till it is no longer a topic of discussion.
6) Speculative
rumours about Minister Frank Tumwebaze’s suspension.
Rumours
were spreading fast on social media alleging that the Minister for Kampala and
presidency Frank Tumwebaze was suspended .The government moved fast and
reassured the public. The minister for security Muruli Mukasa clarified that
the minister in charge of the Presidency and Kampala Capital City Authority
Frank Tumwebaze, Tumwebaze was on official leave which would end on February 2.Minsiter
Frank Tumwebaze also communicated the same
which calmed the situation.
Ivan N. Baliboola
PR & organizational diagnosis specialist
The
author has worked with some of the most well-known and influential East African
brands in construction, governance, manufacturing, healthcare, Insurance,
fashion, supermarket, Insurance, cosmetics, and banking. He carries a wealth of
experience in marketing, Public relations, crisis management, reputation
management, organisational diagnosis, content marketing and social media. He
is a proud Award winner of a prestigious Public Relations Association of Uganda
excellence award. He has volunteered his life to addressing
environment and health related causes. He is also a blogger, professional critic,
and strategist. He has published over 300 articles through online and
traditional media (newspapers and Magazines)
The writer assumes no responsibility
for contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.
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