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KAMPALA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has appointed seasoned journalist Julius Mucunguzi as its new spokesperson and head of the public relations department.

He takes over from Paul Bukenya, who has been in an acting capacity since former spokesperson Joshua Taremwa left the commission ahead of the 2021 general election.

Bukenya confirmed to New Vision Online on Monday, March 18, 2-24, morning that he was still serving at the commission as the principal public relations officer, who will be reporting to Mucunguzi.

Sources indicated that Mucunguzi, who assumes office on April 1, 2024, emerged as the top candidate after a set of interviews for the position advertised in September last year.

Mucunguzi was an advisor and head of communications at the Office of the Prime Minister but left the job and joined the Organisation of Southern Co-operation, an international organisation of countries from the Global South, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Information from his X, formerly Twitter, handle indicated that he has worked in Ethiopia as undersecretary general for public relations and engagement, since January 2023.

For nine years, he served as a communications advisor and spokesperson for Africa at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London during which, he managed communications for Commonwealth Observer missions during elections in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, and Maldives.

In addition to his role as spokesperson, Mucunguzi is set to head the commission's public and media relations, digital communications, image and branding, internal communications, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagements.  

Background roles

Mucunguzi, worked as a visiting trainer of political and election reporting at the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin Germany, taught journalism and Public Relations at Makerere University, and worked as a senior communications officer for World Vision Uganda.

A professional journalist who also worked with Daily Monitor and New Vision newspapers, Mucunguzi has a master’s degree in media, democracy, and development from the University of Oslo, Norway, and a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and political science from Makerere University.

He has authored two books: Waringa and Other Stories and Once Upon a Time, the story of keeping hope alive. He is an old boy from Kigezi High School.