Prof. Lawrence Muganga, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University and a leading educationist in Uganda, has issued a strong call to action for media houses across the country: adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in newsrooms, or face irrelevance and possible extinction. Speaking at a recent media innovation forum, Prof. Muganga emphasized that the digital revolution is rapidly transforming the global media landscape, and Ugandan newsrooms cannot afford to lag behind.
He pointed out that AI technologies can streamline news gathering, fact-checking, content personalization, and audience engagement. “Newsrooms must evolve with technology. If not, they risk dissolving into obscurity as global standards shift,” Prof. Muganga warned.
Citing examples from international media giants such as The New York Times and BBC, which have successfully integrated AI to enhance news production and distribution, Prof. Muganga challenged Ugandan editors and journalists to invest in digital literacy and AI-driven tools. He argued that AI adoption is not just about efficiency, but also about maintaining credibility and relevance in an era of information overload and fake news.
His remarks come at a time when many Ugandan media houses are struggling with shrinking revenues, audience fragmentation, and competition from digital platforms. Prof. Muganga concluded by urging media owners to prioritize staff training in AI and data analytics, stating, “It’s evolve or dissolve—there’s no middle ground.”