Gov't seeks budget for Media Council

In 2011, Uganda Media Council (UMC)'s total collection in terms of revenue, according to Pius Mwinganisa, the outgoing UMC secretary was sh27m.

Though UMC has collected sh154 so far this year, the issue of niggardly resources available to an entity that regulates and enforces professional conduct among journalists was on  Tuesday cited as one of the biggest impediments to realising its mandate.

During the inauguration of the incoming secretary UMC, Kyetume Kasanga on Tuesday, permanent secretary in ministry of ICT, Vincet Bagiire revealed that Government is engaging parliament to have UMC allocated a specific budget.

Currently, UMC is under Uganda Communications Commissions although it's not directly funded by the Executive on account of its role that enjoins it to impartial.

"It's a challenge that we acknowledge. We are engaging parliament to have UMC provided a budget," Bagiire said when asked about the niggardly resources available to UCC.

Earlier, Mwinganisa had told the media that many of the activities of UMC, including training media practitioners, have been conducted under the auspices of donors like United Nations Development Programme.

Established under the Press and Journalist Act, the Media Council is charged with the regulation of Mass Media and journalism as a profession.

The overarching objective of the Law is to ensure the freedom of the press, regulate the mass media and arbitrate any disputes within or related to the industry.

Appointed by the minister of information, the secretary of UMC serves for a term of three years which is renewable.