Job Namanya | Tayari News
MBARARA – Journalists attending a three-day media training workshop in Mbarara have been urged to exercise caution when using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in newsrooms and to strengthen investigative reporting on standards and metrology to better inform the public.
The training, happening at Hotel Triangle in Mbarara, is organised by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) in partnership with Ultimate Multimedia Consult (UMC) and funded by UK Aid through TradeMark Africa. It aims to equip journalists with the knowledge and tools needed to report accurately on quality standards, consumer protection, and trade competitiveness.
Speaking on the second day of the workshop, Patricia Busingye, Trainer and Media Monitoring Manager at Ultimate Multimedia Consult, warned that increasing dependence on AI tools in journalism poses risks if not handled responsibly.
Busingye described AI as a powerful technology that can improve newsroom efficiency but cautioned that it should never replace human judgment. According to her, journalists remain the primary custodians of truth and must ensure that all information published meets professional and ethical standards.
She explained that one of the major dangers associated with AI is the phenomenon known as “hallucinations,” where AI systems generate information that appears credible but is entirely false. If such content is published without verification, it can easily spread misinformation and damage public trust in the media.
Busingye urged journalists to remain vigilant and maintain strong editorial oversight when using AI tools in their work. She warned that simply copying and publishing AI-generated content without verification undermines professional journalism and weakens the credibility of media institutions.
“Artificial Intelligence should assist journalists rather than replace their thinking or professional judgment, the responsibility of verifying facts, ensuring balance and maintaining ethical standards must remain with the journalist,” she told participants.
She advised media houses to establish clear internal policies to guide the use of AI in news production. These guidelines, she said, should focus on transparency, accountability and accuracy to ensure that the technology supports rather than compromises editorial integrity.
Busingye encouraged journalists to use AI for routine or time-consuming tasks such as transcription of interviews, organising data and conducting preliminary research. However, she stressed that story verification, interpretation and editorial decisions should always involve human oversight.
Maintaining what she described as a “human-in-the-loop” approach would allow newsrooms to benefit from the speed of digital tools while preserving professional responsibility and credibility.
Dr. Ivan Nathanael Lukanda, a Senior Lecturer at Makerere University, challenged journalists to go beyond technical explanations when covering standards-related issues. He encouraged reporters to explore the wider human stories connected to quality control and regulatory systems.
According to Dr. Lukanda, the process of ensuring product standards involves an “investigative ecosystem” that includes laboratory scientists, inspectors, manufacturers, traders and consumers. Each stage of this system offers potential angles for investigative reporting that can help the public understand how quality standards affect everyday life.
He noted that the circulation of substandard goods is not only a regulatory concern but also a serious health and environmental problem. Products that fail to meet quality requirements can expose consumers to harmful chemicals, unsafe medicines and environmentally damaging substances.
Dr. Lukanda cited examples such as banned cosmetics containing dangerous ingredients and counterfeit pharmaceutical products that fail to meet medical standards. These products, he said, can cause severe health complications and undermine confidence in legitimate businesses.
“Journalists play an important role in exposing such risks and helping the public understand why standards matter. When reporting connects technical regulations to real-life experiences, audiences are more likely to pay attention,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of international quality requirements in shaping Uganda’s export performance. In particular, he pointed to Uganda’s coffee sector, where compliance with global standards determines access to premium markets.
Failure to meet international quality benchmarks can result in rejected exports, financial losses for farmers and reduced competitiveness in global trade. Accurate reporting on such issues, Dr. Lukanda said, helps the public appreciate the economic importance of standards and quality assurance.
Daniel Arorwa, a Surveillance Manager at UNBS emphasized that responsible reporting on quality regulations is essential for protecting consumers and promoting fair trade practices.
He said the media plays a critical role in informing the public about product safety, certification systems and the dangers of counterfeit goods. By highlighting enforcement efforts and educating consumers about quality marks, journalists can help reduce the circulation of fake products in the market.
Arorwa added that improved reporting on standards also supports legitimate businesses that invest in compliance and certification, ensuring that they compete on a fair and transparent market.
About the Training
The training programme is designed to build journalists’ capacity to understand complex regulatory systems and translate them into accessible stories for the public.
Participants are receiving training in investigative techniques, digital storytelling and the use of data tools to analyse quality trends. Sessions also focus on identifying fake certification marks, understanding testing procedures and interpreting technical reports.
Another key component of the programme addresses the role of certification in supporting small and medium enterprises, particularly women-led businesses. Access to certification allows these enterprises to expand into formal markets and compete both locally and internationally.
The workshop began with an overview of UNBS’ mandate and its contribution to Uganda’s Vision 2040 development agenda. Facilitators introduced participants to the different branches of metrology, including legal, industrial and scientific measurement systems used to ensure product accuracy and safety.
Through practical exercises and group discussions, journalists are being encouraged to identify story ideas that connect standards and metrology to issues such as public health, environmental protection, trade and consumer rights.
Participants are also undertaking practical storytelling assignments that involve research, interviews and pitching investigative ideas related to quality standards.
The training will conclude with a “Next Steps Café” session where journalists and facilitators will discuss strategies for improving coverage of standards and consumer protection issues across different media platforms.
Certificates will be awarded to participants at the end of the workshop. In addition, selected story proposals will receive production grants to support the development of in-depth reporting projects on standards and metrology.
Organisers say the initiative is intended to strengthen the role of the media in promoting public awareness about quality standards and encouraging accountability in the production and distribution of goods.