Minister Baryomunsi Replaces Youthful UBC Board with Questionable Members

The move by Minister of ICT and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsi to remove three young brains from the board of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) and replace them with elderly members has sparked controversy.

Minister Baryomunsi appointed Ibrahim Makoma, Moses Watasa and Hamlet Mbabazi Kabushenga to replace Mike Okua, Richard Barungi and Col. Chriz Magezi.

It's important to note that Watasa is a commissioner at the ICT ministry while Kabushenga is the former MP for Kinkizi East, the constituency Baryomunsi currently represents in parliament.

The appointment of Kabushenga is also controversial because he has in the past been accused of financial misappropriation by donors to community projects he is managing in Kanungu, though he has denied the accusations.

Another appointee, Ibrahim Makoma, is said to be from the same area as ICT state minister Godfrey Baluku Kabbyanga. Makoma is also among those who have been contesting the legitimacy of Charles Wesley Mumbere as Omusinga of Rwenzururu Kingdom and want to have him dethroned so they can be crowned kings.

The questionable appointments have left observers wondering if the appointing authority just wanted his cronies around him to facilitate his interests. This reporter couldn't immediately reach the minister for comment but he has been quoted in the media saying meritocracy was observed while selecting new board members.

The UBC Board Chairman James Tumusiime was quoted in the media saying that losing young and revolutionary members like Col. Magezi, Barungi and Okua will leave a vacuum because they believe they were set to open new doors to steer the government-owned broadcaster forward.

The new board, which was inaugurated in August 15, is headed by Dr. James Tumusiime. The other members of the board are Mary Paula Turyahikayo, Tezira Jamwa, Sarah Namumbya and David Winston Agaba, who is also the UBC Managing Director.

The outgoing members had played a pivotal role in the revamp of UBC when they joined the board in June 2019. Some of the issues that had been frustrating UBC rotated around governance, staff welfare and branding as a review committee noted in 2016. UBC had since the appointment of the outgoing board showed commendable improvement as indicated by reviews from different platforms, including social media.