The music filled the room with warmth. The rhythm within began to bring the place to life despite the grey quiet morning outside. One by one, journalists with cameras, corporates in suits, and government officials in heels and tucked shirts entered each wearing a different hue of purpose and confidence. The hum of conversation filled the room The music went on, its pulse reflecting the heartbeat of the day. Then a dark-skinned, medium-sized gentleman, slightly taller than the typical African male, stepped forward, smiling and carrying a microphone. He said, “We celebrate the International Day for Universal Access to Information ten years since the United Nations declared it,” he announced.
It was the morning of October 7, 2025, at the Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) offices along Ggaba Road. Uganda had joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).
The event organized by the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) in collaboration with Twaweza East Africa and Makerere University’s School of Journalism and Communication brought together over 60 participants: journalists, students, civil society actors, and government representatives from institutions such as NITA-U, PPDA, and the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
This year’s theme, “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age,” could not have been more fitting. As floods, droughts, and pollution reshape communities, access to environmental information is fast becoming a matter of survival. It was not just another conference.
Keynote speech
In his keynote address, Joshua Akandwanaho from the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) stood before the audience with conviction: “Without access to timely, accurate, and reliable information, participation in governance becomes an illusion.” He painted a vivid picture of how technology can bridge information gaps especially in remote communities where a smartphone and an internet connection can open doors to civic participation. Yet, he cautioned, “Access to Information must go hand in hand with trust, equity, and responsibility.”
Akandwanaho emphasized government’s strides toward a more transparent digital future. But he also acknowledged the gaps: delayed responses to ATI requests, high internet costs, and low digital literacy that continue to exclude rural Ugandans from the information ecosystem.
AFIC’s unwavering call for Transparency
Earlier, Gilbert Sendugwa, AFIC’s Executive Director, Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) had set the tone with a passionate reminder of Uganda’s pioneering spirit: “Uganda was among the first three African countries to adopt Access to Information legislation. But having the law is not enough it must live in action.” He emphasized.
Gaaba Lakel Maria, the Advocacy and Communications lead at AFIC and Sight Ampamya, the senior data analyst shared research from an analysis of information requests conducted by AFIC in 2025.
“Between 2018 and 2025, only 10% of ATI requests received any response, despite growing public demand. Yet, the number of requests has increased fivefold since 2021 a sign that citizens are becoming more aware and assertive of their right to know.” Said Ampamya.
“We shall hold public institutions accountable for complying with the law,” Gaaba declared, “not because we are not friends, but because transparency is a duty.” She added.
AFIC findings echoed what came next: a national pulse survey that confirmed citizens’ growing hunger for usable information.
The Data Speaks: Citizens Want to Know
From Twaweza East Africa, Marie Nanyanzi shared fresh findings from the Sauti za Wananchi survey a national pulse on what Ugandans care about most. While unemployment, health, and corruption top the list of national concerns, more than 57% of Ugandans report feeling the effects of climate change.
The paradox? Only 3% consider it a top national issue. Why? Because for many, environmental information simply doesn’t reach them.
“Information in Uganda must speak the language of its people,” Nanyanzi stressed. “If only 20% use English, then 80% are left out that is not access.” Her message drifted through the room like a moral imperative: the fight for environmental justice begins with the fight for understandable, accessible, and localized information.
Debating Uganda’s Progress: Hope vs. Reality
The highlight of the day came in the form of a national debate:
“Is Uganda making meaningful progress in ensuring access to environmental information?”
The youth took the stage, voices alive with conviction. Those arguing for the motion pointed to Uganda’s legal framework, youth-led digital campaigns like #AccessToInformation, and rising civic awareness as proof of progress.
But their opponents countered that access remains mostly theoretical. Many citizens, they argued, still cannot access environmental data not because they don’t care, but because it’s locked away in complex reports or behind costly digital walls.
“The law exists, but without accessible platforms, knowledge remains locked away,” one participant challenged.
By the end, consensus emerged: progress is real, but uneven. The road to true environmental transparency is long and digital tools alone won’t pave it. The journey requires translation, inclusion, and trust.
A Collective Vision Forward
From the discussions came a unified call to action:
- Establish a centralized, zero-rated environmental information portal.
- Lead awareness campaigns in local languages.
- Empower communities to request and use public information.
- Continue monitoring institutional compliance.
As Sight Ampamya from AFIC summed it up, “Citizens are demanding information on health, land, procurement, and climate. This shows the growing public agency that the government must match with responsiveness.”
The Spirit of IDUAI Lives On
One fact had become indisputable by the time the cameras stopped recording and the conversations spilled into the hallways: information access is the cornerstone upon which all other rights are built.
From radio waves to digital portals, from the city to the rural, the message is obvious: transparency must be the rule rather than the exception.
“Change will follow if youth push the message,” one student stated with youthful conviction. Simple acts like declaring that it is improper to dispose of trash in a trench are the first step.”
In that spirit, the 2025 IDUAI commemoration didn’t just mark a day on the calendar. It sparked a renewed movement one where every citizen, armed with knowledge, can shape a cleaner, fairer, and more transparent Uganda.
