Corruption Reports Result of IWPR Training

The series of stories on the alleged corruption sabotaging the redevelopment of the north were produced by journalists who had just attended an IWPR investigative reporting seminar in Uganda.

From June 9 to 13, IWPR Africa editor Peter Eichstaedt held workshops in investigative reporting techniques in Lira and Gulu. These sessions – which covered the topics of health, education, agriculture and the economy – were held to prepare journalists to produce investigative reports on the reconstruction of northern Uganda.

At an investigative reporting seminar in Uganda, IWPR Africa editor Peter Eichstaedt gave reporters the tools they need to produce sound investigative pieces.

The reporters were given the tools they need to produce sound investigative pieces.

“When you are handling a story, your story should not be one-sided,” Eichstaedt told them. “Talk to many sources, including the accused. Don’t put your own opinion into a story. Separate facts from opinion, write facts and verify information.”

Eichstaedt also told journalists to back up stories with statistics and interview experts, government officials and NGOs to find out what is being done to address specific problems.

As well as the corruption series, the training resulted in a comprehensive set of reports, published in August, which dealt with topics ranging from AIDS and education to the psychological trauma caused by war.

The following month, Oketch, who took part in the training, was commended by BBC World Service Trust with a communicating transitional justice in Africa award for two stories he wrote for IWPR this year. The stories were Corruption Blights Rebuilding Efforts, published on May 29, and Food Crisis Hits North from June 4.