MPs keen to end UBC monopoly on live plenary coverage

After monopolizing the broadcast of live plenary proceedings for years, Members of Parliament want to break Uganda Broadcasting Corporation's (UBC) monopoly and grant rights to major private television stations.

This was after the MPs on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee demanded to know why the broadcasting of plenary sessions has been on and off.

The MPs insisted that in order to keep the services on, other TV stations should also be given the opportunity to broadcast the session.

Recently UBC halted the live broadcast of parliamentary proceedings after the two disagreed on a sh10b debt.

For years, UBC kept the transmitters airing live plenary sessions on, knowing that soon they will be paid for their services.

But when the bill reached sh10b, according to UBC managing director, David Agaba, Parliament instead of issuing a cheque to UBC, produced agreements indicating that the services were to be offered for free.

According to the Commission, there were no agreements signed between the two to indicate that Parliament would in turn pay for the services.

While appearing before the Committee yesterday, the Commission represented by Peter Ogwang made it clear that house does not owe UBC anything.

"We have made it clear that we don't owe UBC anything," he said before referring the matter to the director of finance and administration, Okello Obabaru.

"When they demanded for the money, I invited the financial controller, presented all the documents and he went back satisfied that we owe them nothing," Obaburu said.

MP Ibrahim Ssemuju (Kira Municipality) insisted that the Commission should formerly resolve the matter because it keeps cropping up every financial year.

"I handled this matter when I was he COSASE chairperson ; it is now with Abdu Katuntu and its now about to end. Can we have it formerly resolved?" Ssemujju asked. 

Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige, however said there was no budget to pay private TVs.