Absa, Makerere train journalists in financial reporting

Absa Bank Uganda, in partnership with Makerere University, has trained 17 journalists in financial, business and data-driven reporting as part of efforts to strengthen specialised journalism in Uganda.

The two-day training, held at Makerere University, was the second edition of the Absa-Makerere Journalism Masterclass, which is being conducted under a three-year partnership between the bank and the university.

The journalists, drawn from leading media houses across the country, were trained in financial and business reporting, data journalism and the interpretation of financial markets and economic trends.

The masterclass covered topics including using data to produce impactful stories, business and financial journalism in the digital age, financial news writing, data journalism techniques, financial markets and the current economic outlook, as well as ethics in business and financial reporting.

Speaking at the opening of the training, Absa Bank Uganda managing director David Wandera said journalists need a strong understanding of business and financial issues to effectively explain economic developments to the public.

“The continued interest in this masterclass demonstrates the value journalists place on strengthening their understanding of business and financial reporting. Economic conditions, investments and business decisions affect society, making informed and accurate reporting essential,” Wandera said.

He said journalists play an important role in helping the public understand complex issues involving markets, investments and different sectors of the economy.

“As a banker and news consumer, I rely on journalists to explain sectors, markets and investments clearly. Strong financial and business knowledge makes a significant difference,” he said.

Dr Aisha Nakiwala Sembatya, head of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University, said the programme was addressing a skills gap in specialised reporting.

“Business and financial journalism is a demanding beat and many of our newsrooms simply don’t have the resources to train reporters in it properly. What Absa is doing here fills that gap,” Nakiwala said.

She said improving journalists’ understanding of data and financial concepts would enable them to ask more informed questions and produce stories that better serve the public.

“When journalists understand data and financial concepts better, they ask better questions and the stories they write serve the public better,” she said.

The Absa-Makerere Journalism Masterclass is part of a broader three-year partnership between Absa Bank Uganda and Makerere University aimed at strengthening professional journalism standards and developing specialised skills in financial and business reporting.

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