How Women Voices Are Presented in Media Reporting of Karamoja Conflict through the Lenses of Uganda Radio Network (URN)

This paper investigates the representation of women’s voices in Ugandan media coverage of Karamoja conflict which has involved security operations against cattle rustlers. The paper applied a quantitative case study design using Uganda Radio Network (URN), a news agency which services news content to most of Uganda’s legacy and online media outlets. URN serves over 130 out of the more than 200 operating radio stations, services major print media organisations such as Daily Monitor, Red Pepper, The Observer and The Independent includes dozens of online news sites. This study aim was to examine how Ugandan media represents women’s voices during ongoing Karamoja conflict. The study using content analysis identifies that over 80% of the quoted sources in the media are men, despite the conflict disproportionately affecting women and children. Hence, the paper provides valuable insights into the gender imbalance in media coverage of the Karamoja conflict reporting. This paper applies conflict and gender and power theories to explore how structural inequalities shape the media’s sourcing practices during conflicts. The theory explores how gender roles and power relations, meaning gender is not only a cause but also a consequence, instrument and embodiment of power over.