No funding: DGF shutdown forces URN news agency to suspend operations

Leading news agency Uganda Radio Network (URN) is reportedly set to suspend operations in April 2021 due to lack of funding following the suspension of Democratic Governance Facility (DGF).

In January 2021, Museveni suspended the operations of DGF.

URN, in operation since 2005, was one of the institutions affected by the suspension of DGF operations in Uganda.

After soldiering on for two months, URN’s management has now told staff it cannot guarantee their salaries for April 2021 since the contract with lead funder DGF expires at the end of March.

Management could not rule out the “possibility of an extension of our [URN] contract with them [DGF] but “the current situation closed that path and left us with no options.”

“Starting April 2021, I regret to inform you that there will be no funding for salary and [operational costs],” read an internal memo to all staff.

Management added that it was aware the decision to suspend operations was “going to be a trying moment for all of us” but asked for staff’s “understanding.”

“Management is trying hard to work out other options to keep the organization open but there is currently no direct fund to sustain operations and bridge the gap left by DGF.”

Meanwhile, Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda managing director Tony Glencross has announced some staff at Daily Monitor, East African, NTV Uganda, Spark TV KFM, Ennyanda and Ddembe FM will lose their jobs in a restructuring exercise.