UBC TV, respective radio channels for facelift

PIC: The seven-member committee of professionals was commissioned on Monday. (Credit: Godiver Asege)

KAMPALA - Uganda's national broadcaster UBC TV and its radio channels will soon get a facelift to close the gap left by the private players.

Consequently, a seven-member committee of experts to carry out a review and assessment of the TV and radio channels has been commissioned.

Speaking at a ceremony to commission the committee of professionals in various disciplines Monday, Frank Tumwebaze, the minister for ICT and national guidance said the review will run for at least one month and at most two months.

"This team of experts has proven themselves in different fields, and will spend some time and effort doing a Review and Assessment of UBC and its respective channels," he said.

Tumwebaze (pictured above) said UBC has great potential to shine within the country and worldwide, hence the need to constitute a strong and well-managed national broadcaster to cover the whole country, and help to tell a true story about Uganda's rich heritage.

The committee which will liaise with the Board of UBC and the Ministry of ICT will be chaired by Dr. Peter G. Mwesige, a well-known media professional.

The other members include:

• Peace Piwang, a Human Resource professional

• Adolf Mbaine, a professional journalist as well as academician

• Andrew Kibaya, an advocate of the high court with experience in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance

• Peter Okello Jabwelli, a media and communications professional

• Odrek Rwabwogo, a senior journalist, a public relations and communications professional and

• Kato Bitarabeho, an engineering and ICT professional, as well as an entrepreneur

The committee will carry out an organizational capacity assessment, study the quality of content and services of all UBC channels, assess the innovative capacity of UBC and benchmark ways on how government can support national broadcasters.