The family of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is steadily showing interest in the restructuring and future performance of the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). This observers say, indicates how much importance Museveni attaches to the national broadcaster.
“Rarely have members of the first family come out to participate in the affairs of a public corporation, the way we have seen at UBC. Except for Gen. Muhoozi who is laboring in the military, it is unheard of. Therefore, we should interest ourselves in the direction UBC is taken to understand why this has happened,” one observer who declined to be named said to this newspaper.
Indeed when Minister of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Frank Tumwebaze appointed a committee to look into the issues of UBC, he appointed Odrek Rwabogo as one of its members. Rwabogo is not only a seasoned media practitioner, he is also a son in law to President Museveni, having married his daughter Patience Museveni.
The most recent committee appointed by Tumwebaze to revamp UBC, also has Esteri Konkudeka, a daughter of General Salim Saleh, brother to President Museveni. Esteri, who is named after President Museveni’s mother, is a very brilliant woman, who has contributed greatly to the ongoing efforts to transform UBC.
Having given UBC an estimated Uganda Shillings 20 billion, President Yoweri Museveni is keen to see to it that the money is used for its purpose. Leaving it to the hands of technocrat without direct personal oversight could be risky.
