A team from the South Sudan Embassy in Uganda accompanied a delegation of Ugandan media professionals to Juba on 12th March 2024 to assess all developmental projects, trade unions, and preparedness for the December General elections 2024.
The Uganda media team that visited Juba included journalists from East Africa FM Radio, National Television, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, and the Nation Media on a mission.
South Sudan Ambassador to Uganda, and non-resident Ambassador of South Sudan to Rwanda and Burundi, Simon Juach Deng lead the team of Ugandan media professionals to South Sudan.
Ambassador Juach pointed out that the purpose of the tour is to rewrite South Sudan’s history to change negative global perceptions of the country.
He recognizes the Uganda media for coming to project a positive image of South Sudan.
Amb. Juach and H.W Flora Gabriel Modi Town Mayor, the Mayor of Juba walked the journalists around the capital city to show markets where all different nationalities including Ugandans go about their businesses peacefully.
Ambassador Juach stated that the Uganda media were also in Juba to access the progress on the Trinity Energy system.
The media team also visited media houses such as Eye Radio and South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.
On the same media tour, the journalists interviewed Hon. Ramadan Muhammad Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
During the interview, Hon. Ramadan assured the media that South Sudan is a safe and attractive destination for investors from within Africa and the world at large.
The deputy minister informs journalists how flexible and friendly South Sudan is with other nationalities.
The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Dr Yath Awan Yath briefed Uganda’s media team on media houses that have assessed preparations to cover the general elections in 2024.
He elaborated more about private media sectors including Eye Radio and Miraya FM.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adil Anthony the governor of Central Equatoria State, encouraged the foreign journalists to feel at home since South Sudan is their second home as African brothers and sisters, the spirit is to promote Pan-Africanism.
He thanks Ambassador Juach for coming up with an initiative and emphasizes the importance of changing the narrative about South Sudan.
During a meeting with Eye Radio’s Station and Program Manager, Koang Pal Chang emphasized that the media will always uphold media ethics.
“Eye Radio is committed to maintaining the journalist code of conduct and upholding the core principles of journalism, particularly as the country approaches the upcoming elections,” Koang said.
According to media touring the country, they were much impressed by the expeditious development in Juba for only 13 years since independence in 2011.
It’s the first time some of the peace process, development activities, appraising circumstances and stereotypes surrounding negative narrative about South Sudan.
The five-day media tour was initiated and facilitated by the Embassy of South Sudan in Uganda with the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The journalists stayed in Juba from 11th-15th March 2024.
