Kampala — Coming against the backdrop of state-sponsored attacks on the free media, journalists on Friday held a media dialogue to find a way forward for self regulation.

The meeting organised by a regional scribes' body, Panos Institute of Eastern Africa comes in the wake of the government's effort to set up a Cabinet committee to look into ways of regulating the media.

The government's plans have been perceived by journalists, human rights organisaions and activists as a way to gag the media.

The meeting held at Hotel Africana ran under the theme "Media Regulation in Uganda; Government Regulation Versus Self Regulation; Challenges and Opportunities" sought to block any state efforts to interfere with the journalism profession.

Presidential assistant on political affairs, Mr David K. Mafabi however, refuted claims by journalists that there is a disagreement between self regulation and government regulation.

He said that the two complement each other and that either cannot exist on its own. He said both the government and the media have an interest in the public and, therefore, self regulation is not practical.

"We are talking about regulation and not prohibition," he said.

His argument was challenged by the Managing Editor of The Independent Andrew Mwenda who said that media operation has to be left to the market for regulation.

Mr Mwenda said it is only the market that can judge the worthiness of news products and that those that cannot satisfy the market will be phased out by forces of demand.

The majority view, however, was for self regulation.

But the biggest challenge to self regulation, it emerged, is the fact that most media houses in the country do not sign contracts with journalists and the only benefit journalists get is acquisition of identity cards.

The rest remain uncertain for the journalists which makes them hop from one media house to another. Journalists suggested that in order to be in position to regulate themselves, they should borrow a leaf from Tanzania that has a self regulatory body for independent media which arbitrates over 100 media-related cases annually.

Two subsequent media dialogues are slated for June 20 and 27 in Kampala. The Executive Director of Panos, Mr Luther Bois Anukur asked journalists to turn up in large numbers to attend the remaining meetings.

Mr Anukur's call could have been informed by the low turn up at Hotel Africana. He called on especially administrators, and editors of all media houses to attend the subsequent meetings as their absence has remained a drawback to development of autonomous media in Uganda.