UGANDA: Catholic communicators hold their annual communication convocation
By Irene Lamunu
After missing their annual general meeting and workshop last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the world, the Catholic communicators of Uganda converged at Ulrika Guest House in Kisubi, Entebbe from 3rd to 10th May for their annual convocation.
During the convocation, the communicators had two trainings, presentation of institution reports, a business meeting, and reflected on the message of the Holy Father for the 2021 World Communications Day, guided by the Bishop Chairman of the Social Communications Commission of Uganda Episcopal Conference, Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzelli.
The World Communications Day is celebrated on the Sunday before Pentecost and this year it falls on 16th May. The theme for this years’ celebration is, ‘Come and See’ (Jn 1:46). Communicating by Encountering People Where and as They Are.
Commenting on the Pope’s message, Bishop Franzelli who is also the Bishop Emeritus of Lira Diocese noted that the Holy Father appreciates journalists and communicators in general, but also challenges them to improve on their approach to news reporting. The Pope urges journalists to hit the streets, meet people and get firsthand experience of their situation and reality.
The Bishop called on the communicators to put themselves in the shoes of other people if the articles they write are to have any impact. He also called upon the participants to always be happy to share God’s love, since it is this love that they celebrate in the Eucharist- the source of love, and connect with others.
Although the communicators were unable to hold the national celebration in anticipation as they usually do, they were urged by the Bishop to celebrate at the diocesan level while observing the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the Ministry of Health of Uganda.
In his address to the communicators during the opening ceremony, the Secretary General of Uganda Episcopal Conference, Msgr. John Baptist Kauta urged the participants to be conscious of their responsibility as evangelisers. He noted that the means of social communications “should be used for the benefit of humanity but most of all for evangelization”.
Msgr. Kauta also challenged the participants to be good communicators and to avoid rumours. He appreciated them for the sacrifices they are making amidst financial constraints and limited human resource in the dioceses.
The Secretary General further cautioned the communicators to be vigilant when it comes to social media and endeavour to do better than the journalists working in the secular media. “These days with social media, we have all kinds of news. You hear so many rumours on social media, you people have to be better than that,” said Msgr. Kauta.
The convocation was organized by the National Social Communications Department of the Uganda Episcopal Conference with funding from the Propagation of the Faith office in Rome through SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication). The Executive Secretary of the department, Fr Philip Odii noted that this year’s convocation was unusual because the participants had two training workshops in one week.
The first training which was on “Project proposal writing and other modalities of local fundraising” was the one planned for this year. Meanwhile the second training which was on “Monitoring and Evaluation” was supposed to have been conducted in 2020 but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fifty two participants took part in the convocation including staff from the national Social Communications office, diocesan communication coordinators, one staff from each diocesan communication office, and representatives of Catholic radio stations, Catholic television stations, and print media houses.
Fr. Philip observed that “This year has had the highest number of participants in the last ten years,” adding that “all the four ecclesiastical provinces in Uganda were represented”.
On the last day of the convocation, the communicators visited Marianum Printing Press in Kisubi, Entebbe for learning purposes, especially for those working with print media or are planning to produce newsletters.
