Former Monitor War Reporter Receives lifetime Award

A Veteran journalist John Muto Ono P’Lajur of the Daily Monitor has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his courage and resilience in documenting the 1986–2006 civil war in Northern Uganda. Muto, who reported from the Acholi sub-region, covered three major armed conflicts: the Uganda People’s Democratic Army (led by Maj. Gen. Odong Latek), the Holy Spirit Movement of Alice Lakwena, and the Lord’s Resistance Army under Joseph Kony. He was recognised for his bravery in telling deeply human stories of war—capturing accounts of violence and survival, pain and resilience, as well as hope amid despair. The award was presented by the Uganda Media Sector Working Group (UMSWG), a consortium of different organisations, as part of activities marking World Press Freedom Day 2026 under the theme: “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security.”