🌟LINDA'S REFLECTIONS (Pt 3)

In commemoration of 🌍World PR Day 2025🕊️

Today, I pause to reflect on a 15 year journey in PR and Communications, one that has taken me from volunteer work in a Government Agency to Account Management in a PR Agency for Global brands like #Samsung, #Google, Ernst & Young, #Multichoice and finally to in-house Communications for TotalEnergies EP Uganda, from crafting press releases to shaping national narratives.

In an era where polarization has been amplified by misinformation and disinformation, the role of Public Relations has never been more vital. Public Relations has evolved far beyond crafting catchy headlines or managing media appearances. It’s not just about 'messaging', it’s about 'meaning'.

It has moved away from the words we choose, the platforms we use, the timing we deploy, to➡️ the deeper purpose behind the message, the values it reflects, and the trust it builds. It’s about building bridges between institutions and communities, between technical complexity and public understanding, between ambition and trust.

Working on Uganda’s oil and gas project with TotalEnergies EP Uganda for the last nearly 12 years has been one of the most challenging and rewarding chapters of my career. Even before first oil, I’ve seen transformation, through infrastructure, education, youth empowerment, and sustainability initiatives. But behind every milestone has been a story that needed to be told clearly, credibly, and compassionately.

From countering misinformation with facts, to translating technical jargon into relatable language, to engaging stakeholders across media, government, students, professional organizations, civil society, and local communities, this work has demanded more than communication. It has demanded connection.

Therefore, as we celebrate our profession today, lets remember the why, the meaning of what we do. It’s what stakeholders remember when they decide whether to support a project, trust a brand, or believe in a cause. In my experience, the most powerful communications are those that connect with people’s realities, hopes, and concerns. That’s when PR and Communications becomes more than a function, it becomes a force for understanding, unity, and progress.

To every PR professional navigating complexity with courage and creativity, today, I celebrate you 🥳👏!
Let’s keep building bridges. Let’s keep showing the world what PR can do 💪.