Public Relations Practitioners learn PR Crisis Management in Exciting PRAU Nite
Chimp Reports Managing Editor Giles Muhame opens lids on Successful Stories
The Public Relations Association of Uganda’s professional development and networking event famously known as the PRAU Nite took place on Friday 31st March at D’Mellos Resto and Bar in Nakasero. The Managing Editor of Chimp Reports, Mr. Giles Muhame, delivered a key note presentation “BREAKING THE STORY & PICKING UP THE PIECES” which was a presentation about how Chimp Reports has taken center stage in bold, investigative journalism with headline grabbing stories.
Giles Muhame making his presentation
Giles, who stated that Chimp Reports started in a masters computer lab at Makerere University, was full of inspiration as he shared how they had uncovered stories that no other media houses had dared to including the 2012 Congo – Uganda border crisis, the 2014 conflict in South Sudan, the 2016 UPDF fake arms scandal and most recently the URA golden handshake.
At the end of his presentation, Giles Muhame provided clear pointers on how public relations practitioners ought to handle their PR in this new age of technology and breaking news where time waits for no man:
“”Public relations actors must follow the trends because monologue conversations are no more; new media has changed things to a more engaged conversation. Therefore you need to keep in touch with editors of online news sites and always be truthful when engaging with them” said Giles Muhame.
After the key note presentation by Giles Muhame there was a roundtable discussion that featured some of Uganda’s best and most experienced public relations practitioners. Christine Alupo, the Director
Communications at the Bank of Uganda (BOU), Samuel Apedel, the Public Relations Manager at National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and Bernard Tabaire, Director of Programmes, ACME (African Center for
Media Excellence) provided excellent insights in response to Giles Muhame’s presentation on how public relations professionals ought to respond to PR crisis and emergencies.
Earlier during the evening Cynthia Mpanga, PRAU President, urged employers to avoid hiring public relations staff who didn’t belong to professional associations or bodies and urged all PR practitioners to keep networking and engaging in such events as the PRAU Nite.
It was an evening of learning, networking and engagement as PRAU members filled the venue in an impressive turn up. By 8pm there was no seating space left and those who came late had to follow proceedings while standing. The evenings MC Peter Odeke, Senior Protocol Officer Parliament of Uganda and also PRAU Vice President and the moderator Simon Kaggwa Njala of Radio One coordinated the program skillfully to ensure all who attended were kept engaged. The successful event, which was sponsored by Radio One and D’Mellos Resto and Bar, was attended by PR professionals from Government, Corporate Organizations, NGO’s and the Media fraternity.
