Ugandans get common Suggestion Box

Suggestion Box, a weekly newspaper has been introduced by the Suggestion Box Publications Limited, to step up freedom of expression in the country. The newspaper is purely people driven, focusing on free publication of public views about the current political, economic, religious and cultural affairs.

Paul Harera, managing editor of the Suggestion Box, told Bizcommunity that the new media house started the innovation to offer the public a broader avenue to express their feelings.

Equal participation

"We want to give Ugandans equal participation to open their views to other people through a single newspaper platform. We think that this will create a more active bond for participation on issues concerning Uganda as a state," Harera said.

The latest issue leads with a call for reconciliation between Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni and opposition party leader, Dr. Kizza Besigye, chairman of the Forum for Democratic Change.

"President Museveni and the opposition should try as much as possible to reconcile their differences to enable Uganda and the world move in the right direction of development," reads the suggestion in part.

Another suggestion calls on the government to educate the public about the number of private security firms in the country to prevent crimes by people masquerading as security operatives in the country.

Public as equal players

Harera, a former journalist at The Monitor Publications, believes that having the public as equal players in the media, will make sense and bring great change to the society.

"The public can contribute all their issues without any limitations because this platform is purely theirs. This forum will broaden the media platform which seems a little narrow in Uganda."

Ugandans currently express themselves through letters, commentaries and opinion pages in newspapers, call-ins, debates on radio and television.

The Suggestion Box collects people's views through channels like including letters, emails and text messages. The publishers has also partnered with places such as hospitals, universities, schools, markets and other public places to reach more people and get more content from the public.

The newspaper plans to roll out in other East African market in the future to address the current communication gaps. But at the moment, Harera said, they are focusing on Uganda.