Abstract
This thesis discusses the relationship between the efforts of combating corruption and
the role of the media. It focuses on the connection between media ownership and
combating corruption. The research uses the 2005 Global Fund corruption scandal in
Uganda as a case study. This scandal involved about US $200million from the Global
Fund, meant to fight malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. The study is based on a
comparative analysis of how the two main newspapers in Uganda; Daily Monitor
(privately owned) and New Vision (government-owned) reported on this corruption
scandal. Using this case study, the thesis discusses the role and feasibility of using the
media to combat corruption.
The research is based on theories of causes and means of combating corruption. Within
these theories, the study deals with the relationship between the media and fighting
corruption. The theory of media ownership and editorial independence has also been
discussed with a view of tracing the relationship between ownership and editorial
content. The findings in this study have been based on three research methods that
include in-depth interviews with editors and journalists, qualitative and quantitative
content analysis and document analysis. The study found out that there is a marginal
difference in the way the government and privately owned media report about
corruption. The study also found out that the media’s ability to combat corruption in
Uganda is greatly hampered by unfriendly press laws and the media’s failure to mobilize
resources and skills to do investigative journalism. As such, most of the reports are
based on investigations of other agencies. This research strongly recommends that media
owners should invest heavily in investigative journalism. In cases where this may not be
possible, journalists should resort to existing charities that support investigative
journalism. The media should also continue to lobby for a better legal environment that
encourages more freedom and access to information in possession of the state.
Keywords: Corruption, Global Fund, media, editorial independence, investigative
journalism, media ownership, Daily Monitor, New Vision.