Budaka, Uganda | Students pursuing Journalism and Mass Communication at All Saints University Lango have completed a benchmark study tour at LivingStone International University aimed at strengthening their practical media skills and preparing them for professional journalism practice.
During the engagement, the Chancellor of LivingStone International University, Prof. Dr. Henri Buregea, challenged aspiring journalists to uphold truth, professionalism and ethical reporting in their careers.
Buregea said journalism remains a powerful tool capable of shaping communities and influencing public opinion, urging students to use the profession responsibly.
He revealed that his interest in communication studies was partly inspired by personal experiences with misinformation published by some media outlets.
Buregea recalled an incident where media publications allegedly circulated false reports claiming he had purchased a house which he was only renting, a story that later trended widely on social media.
“That experience made me realise that information was not being used responsibly, and it inspired me to go back and study communication so as to bridge the gap,” he said.
He cautioned students against accepting money to spread false information, saying the practice destroys personal credibility and undermines public trust in journalism.
The Chancellor further disclosed that LivingStone International University and All Saints University Lango are strengthening collaboration through academic exchange programmes that will allow students from both institutions to gain broader learning exposure.
“We shall take our students to attend lectures at All Saints University Lango, and All Saints should also continue bringing their students to attend lectures at our university,” Buregea said.
He also revealed that the university is in the final stages of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lango Cultural Institution to provide affordable scholarship opportunities to learners from the Lango sub-region.
The Dean of Students for Journalism and Media Technique at LivingStone International University, John Kauka, said the institution is committed to nurturing students beyond academics by equipping them with leadership, mentorship and community transformation skills.
Kauka encouraged learners to continue upgrading their academic qualifications in order to remain competitive in the evolving media industry.
Meanwhile, Journalism and Media Technique lecturer Musumbi Hilary warned students against overdependence on Artificial Intelligence in academic work, saying excessive reliance on AI risks limiting creativity and innovation among learners.
“We should use AI to help us find solutions to problems, but not to solve the problems entirely for us,” he said.
The Head of Department for Journalism and Mass Communication at All Saints University Lango, Mustafiri A. Suwed, said the field study was organised to expose students to practical media operations beyond classroom learning.
Suwed noted that the university does not yet have a fully established media studio, making such educational tours important in giving students hands-on experience in broadcasting and television production.
He added that the department previously organised a similar study visit to Uganda Broadcasting Corporation where students gained practical broadcasting exposure.
Students who participated in the tour described the experience as informative and transformative.
Calvin Otim, a Bachelor’s degree student, said the visit exposed them to modern television production equipment and practical broadcasting techniques they had only studied theoretically in class.
Another student, Violet Sanyu, said the hands-on training in camera operation and television production had greatly improved her understanding of media practice.
After the engagement in Budaka, the students proceeded to Busia for a cross-border exposure visit aimed at broadening their understanding of society and regional interactions beyond Uganda.
Credit: Uganda Standard