Communication Officers Tasked to Bridge Information Gaps for Public Trust

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has launched a five-day training workshop on Strategic Communication and Defence Engagement, bringing together Public Information Officers and representatives from other security agencies at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability (URDC) headquarters in Jinja.

Opening the training, Col Allan Kitanda, Director of Strategic Communication in the UPDF, said the training was timely in equipping participants to address growing information threats at both national and international levels. “Uganda is a country where any piece of information becomes news. Therefore, as information and communication experts, it is essential to understand how information is managed to maintain a stable nation. The stability of any country depends on how well it manages its information,” Col Kitanda said.

He urged the officers to embrace critical thinking and strengthen crisis management skills to safeguard national stability. “As critical information agents, it is your responsibility to bridge the information gap at all times. This will help build confidence and trust with the public, which ultimately promotes stability and statehood,” he added.

Col Kitanda further called on institutions to reinforce their communication strategies, warning that some information is deliberately designed to discredit them and should not be tolerated.

Also speaking at the event, Counsel Mary Mutesi stressed the importance of safeguarding institutional legitimacy as a foundation for national stability. “Building resilience within your institution is crucial for promoting national stability and trust, which should be the primary focus for any communication officer,” she said.

The workshop has attracted participants from the UPDF, the Uganda Police Force, and other security organisations.