Following reports of poor performance, legislators have urged the government to consider merging Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) and New Vision.
MPs made this suggestion while reviewing the budgetary allocations to UBC for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, arguing that the government should not continue to invest in an entity that has consistently underperformed.
“UBC is failing to meet citizens’ expectations. “I want to believe that if UBC cannot deliver with the money we have already given it, it should be closed down or transferred to another capable organization,” said Hon. Elijah Mushemeza (Indep., Sheema County South).
Mushemeza believes that the Shs66 billion sought by UBC for digital transformation is unjustified.
“People do not see the results; I find it hard to recommend giving money to something that remains abstract.” With your abstract technology, what minds will you change? “It needs to be unpacked,” Mushemeza explained.
During the Budget Committee meeting, Hon. Igeme Nathan Nabeta presented the report of the Committee of Information, Communication, Technology, and National Guidance on the budgetary projections of the ICT sector for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
Nabeta reiterated that the government could change policy to allow UBC to generate its own revenue through advertisements. He suggested that all government-owned entities advertise on UBC rather than in private media.
MPs stated that Parliament has allocated money to UBC for years and are disappointed that the entity is uncompetitive in the market, while other government-owned media, such as the New Vision, are making financial strides.
“They have emancipated that entity; after all, there is duplication.” Almost everything that UBC does, New Vision does as well; New Vision runs programs across the country and in local languages. Let UBC go to New Vision, which is running smoothly,” said Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju (FDC, Kiira Municipality).
Hon. Fox Odoi-Oywelowo, MP for West Budama North East, said the committee report shows UBC as a bankrupt entity with arrears of over Shs87 billion, and he wonders why it has not yet been dissolved.
“Such entities are not resurrected; rather, they are wound up.” “I’m not sure why we should keep pouring money into something that isn’t producing results,” Odoi-Oywelowo said.
