(as prepared for delivery Hilton Garden Hotel, Kampala) Kampala, Uganda — I am deeply honored to participate in this important event to underscore the vital role that a free press plays in democracy. Journalists shine a light on not only the many challenges and cruelties that are all too common in our lives, but also on stories that inspire and sustain us, particularly in difficult times such as the past year. This past year the COVID-19 pandemic has upended all of our lives, and the media sector has not been immune to this upheaval. This is a difficult period for many Ugandan media outlets, with staff facing layoffs or uncertainty about their job prospects in a profession they love. Our thoughts are with our media colleagues as they weather this economic uncertainty.