Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has demanded a public apology from a journalist accused of editing his remarks during parliamentary proceedings and circulating a misleading video on social media.
Speaking during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting, Tayebwa identified the journalist as John Paul Sewaduka of CBS FM, who is accredited to cover Parliament and operates the online platform SPJ Exclusive Media.
Tayebwa said Sewaduka edited footage of his remarks during Tuesday’s plenary sitting on the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
According to the Deputy Speaker, the edited clip created the impression that he was belittling nurses and questioning their ability to hold leadership positions.
The video attracted criticism on social media, with Tayebwa saying he received numerous calls and messages from people accusing him of disrespecting the nursing profession.
He maintained that his remarks had been taken out of context, explaining that he had acknowledged the qualifications and leadership experience of nurses, including those holding PhDs and senior positions.
Tayebwa said he traced the video to Sewaduka and contacted him over the matter. The journalist reportedly apologised privately, but the Deputy Speaker insisted that the apology should be made publicly.
“I told him to make a public apology because you cannot tarnish my name in public and apologise to me in private,” Tayebwa said.
He also disclosed that he had referred the matter to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and directed Parliament’s Corporate Affairs Department to handle it under the institution’s media guidelines.
“I will own up to whatever I say, but when you twist it, you should also own up,” he said.
Tayebwa warned that selectively edited recordings could mislead the public and damage the reputations of elected leaders.
He urged journalists covering Parliament to report proceedings accurately and provide sufficient context when sharing video clips.
The Deputy Speaker nevertheless reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to maintaining a good working relationship with the media, acknowledging its role in informing the public about legislative business.
“The media is very critical for the performance of this Parliament, but they are not above scrutiny where they do wrong things,” Tayebwa said.
Clarify when the statements were madeUse more neutral wording throughoutTighten the story for television
