By Spy Uganda
HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed Prime Minister, Robinah Nabanja to ensure that Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) gets Ugx30 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year.
In his letter dated 6th March 2023, Museveni says UBC MD, Winston Agaba wrote to him ‘crying’ over under-funding by the Government, denial of advertisements by Accounting Officers, the need to pay penalties on delays for their contribution to NSSF and for PAYE and replacement of old equipment.
To nurse Agaba’s heart, Museveni directed that all Government advertising must be through UBC and if any accounting officer tries to deviate from this will be dismissed.
”Using the money generated through adverts, the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation must buy the state of art equipment,” reads Museveni’s letter.
On the penalties for the delays in paying NSSF contributions and PAYE, he ordered that this must be scrapped.
On the huge debt UBC has to pay to the satellite service provider Intelsat amounting to $988,225 (Shs3.7b), the President said it will be cleared by government.
According to Intelsat, UBC’s arrears have been unpaid for several years.
“We certainly would like to avoid such measures and would regret having to take actions that may result in termination of your services. We would also like you to consider opening a dialogue with us to consider governmental needs regarding connectivity requirements in Uganda,” partially reads a September 6 letter from Intelsat regarding the UBC being switched off.
Meanwhile, after all the above directives Museveni said, ”I saw some allegations of inefficiencies in UBC itself that l will address at an appropriate time.”
Uganda Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster network of Uganda. It was founded as a result of the “Uganda Broadcasting Corporation Act, 2004”, which merged the operations of Uganda Television and Radio Uganda. It started broadcasting on November 16, 2005.
