Public relations professionals have renewed their call for a law to regulate the profession, saying it will raise standards, improve accountability and protect the public from unqualified practitioners.
The proposed Public Relations Bill is expected to establish a legal framework for regulating the profession, set minimum professional standards and enforce a code of ethics for practitioners.
Speaking during this year’s Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) Annual Symposium in Kampala, the minister for ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, welcomed the proposal and pledged government support for the Bill.
Lumumba said strategic communicators have a duty to provide accurate, timely and responsible information to the public.
“As the minister responsible for communication, I am ready to support the bill and defend it to ensure it is embraced. We hope that by October we shall have made significant progress in promoting it,” she said.
The minister said Uganda’s image has in some instances been damaged by poor communication, citing the Ebola outbreak as one example where communication challenges affected the country’s economy.
“As a country, we did not handle communication around the Ebola outbreak as well as we should have. This affected our economy,” Lumumba said.
She also expressed concern about the spread of misinformation on social media, saying many people with smartphones have become communicators without verifying the information they share.
“False information can damage the country’s image and undermine government programmes,” she said.
Lumumba added that government is considering measures to promote responsible use of mobile phones and digital communication because misinformation can affect economic growth, peace and national stability.
Meanwhile, PRAU president Irene Nakasiita said the association remains committed to securing the passage of the Public Relations Bill as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year.
Although PRAU marked the anniversary in May, Nakasiita said the main celebrations will be held in October.
“As professionals, we are pushing for our Bill because it will help us regulate ourselves,” she said.
Nakasiita said the profession has been infiltrated by people who lack the required qualifications and ethical standards.
“We have people practising public relations who are not genuine, while others behave unprofessionally. If the law is in place, we shall be able to discipline them, including suspending them from the profession,” she said.
According to PRAU, the proposed legislation will establish clear professional standards, enforce an ethical code of conduct, strengthen accountability and protect both practitioners and organisations in the public and private sectors.
PRAU currently has more than 700 members drawn from government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as the private sector across the country.
