Member of Parliament for Busongola North, William Nzoughu

There was drama in Parliament on Wednesday when some members were accused of having been bribed by the Executive Director of the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), Godfrey Mutabazi, in order to kill a minority report pining him on conflict of interest over his failure to switch off Uganda telecom (UTL) the moment UCC realized it had become insolvent.

A minority report which was tabled by the Member of Parliament for Busongola North, William Nzoughu, had recommended that Mutabazi be investigated by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) so as to properly rule out any conflict of interest regarding the supply of packaging polythene bags, Christmas gift hampers and mineral water to UTL by Semliki Diary &Beverages a company where Mutabaazi is said to own a stake of 30% shares.

Nzoughu said the minority report which was however, later rejected by Parliament  could have been the evidence to pin Mutabazi since UCC for a long time couldn’t  crack the whip on UTL  even when it was clearly seen to be breaching the relevant laws.

However, when MPS on the floor started attempts of rejecting his report, Nzoughu instead accused them of being bribed by Mutabazi as a way of exonerating  him from the current mess at UTL.

“So of you have taken bribes from Mutabazi to kill this matter but i will not allow it happen. There was a serious conflict of interest on the part of Mutabazi to get engaged in business with UTL well knowing the company that was supplying the items had a connection with him.He has attempted to bribe me so that i drop this minority report but i stood my ground,” he said.

Godfrey Mutabazi, the ED Uganda Communications Commission

Nzoughu said that Mutabazi first called him for a bribe to abandon the report and when he refused he turned to bribing some MPS to kill the report on the floor which they successful did.

He also reported that while  he was going to table the minority report on the floor of Parliament, he was confronted by a group of MPs who asked him to abandon the report but insisted and tabled it.

But when Nzoughu was told by the Speaker of Parliament, the Rt.Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, to name some of the MPs whom he says were bribed, indicating when and how much each got,the MP  failed to name any of them.

“Hon. Speaker, i cannot name the MPs who got these bribes at this time but i would like to ask you to kindly this house to interest in the matter,” he said leaving his colleagues in laughter while others murmured.

However, Kadaga later ordered for the removal of the allegations from the HANSERED and Parliament approved the main report.

The post Drama as MP claims UCC’s Mutabazi tried to bribe him first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Speaking in a workshop organized by Uganda Journalist Association (UJA) on media development, Mutabazi notes that the government contracted Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) to distribute digital signals to other telecasters but the government owned company has not yet done its work as anticipated.

Mutabazi however says that Uganda might be on time if no changes arise stopping the processes that have been set in motion.

He also states that they are soon starting compelling media house owners to start remitting finances to Uganda performers rights association as a proceed for using music produced by Ugandan artists.

Ultimate Media

The post Uganda struggling to beat digitalization deadline first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

This follows admission by the government communications regulator that  Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation is not ready to deliver Uganda from analog to digital technology by the set deadline.

Uganda communication Commission’s Executive Director, Godfrey Mutabazi, Told the Parlaimentary committee on Information, Communications and Technology that although UBC was selected by Cabinet to be the sole digital provider in Uganda, the Corporation does not have money to fund the migration.

Mutabazi also said they can no longer issue analog broadcast licenses because of the migration deadline and that that UBC’s failure to beat the deadline is bound to leave Uganda in a technological black out as the rest of the world goes digital in 2015/ He said they are considering changing the current policy of UBC being the sole digital provider.

“Wwe cannot go ahead with digital planning because UBC has failed to provide the platform. In East Africa, Uganda is the only country lagging behind schedule,” Mutabazi said.

He asked Parliament to consider breaking the UBC monopoly created by cabinet so that interested parties can get rights to provide digital signals for the good of the industry.

“We should get another provider so that if UBC breaks down, the country can have an alternative provider. The problem started when Cabinet narrowed on only UBC and UBC now is not ready to beat the deadline. Digital migration is very complicated. You cannot just wake up and do it,” Mutabaazi said.

Last month, private broadcast operators opposed the idea of UBC being the sole digital provider saying that it is against the doctrines of a liberal economy.

In the same month, Ministry of finance stopped a $74m (about sh192b) contract between UBC and Huawei for the supply of digital migration equipment after Opposition Leader, Nandala Mafabi, complained that the contract was awarded without advertising.

Mutabazi said that if the issues are not solved, by either allowing private bidder or getting UBC money to buy the necessary equipment, we will not have TV in Uganda when the deadline passes.

The deadline for East African countries is 2012, while that of the world is 2015. This means that Uganda has 12 months to migrate. According to Mutabaazi, if we do not beat the regional deadline it means we cannot beat the world deadline.

By Isaac Senabulya

The post Uganda Broadcasting Corporation cannot deliver digital migration for television by deadline first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Godfrey Mutabazi

The body recently announced that it would engage in the process with all the existing communication companies to ensure all subscribers are registered in the move aimed at fighting crime in the country.

The Uganda communication commission (UCC) Executive Director Godfrey Mutabazi says the exercise that will run for one year is expected to start December this year.

He however says negotiations are still ongoing regarding the modalities to be followed in the registeration of sim cards.

Mutabazi further asked the government to harmonize its taxes and tariffs with other regional states on the importation of mobile phone handset so as to fight smuggling.
By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

The post Uganda communication commission to start the Sim-card registration first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Godfrey Mutabazi

The two regulatory bodies have recently evolved with the new trends of technological advancement.

It is however quite hard to follow activities and requirements needed by the telecommunication and media companies within a limited period of time according to sources within the two bodies.

The new Executive Director for Uganda communications commission and Uganda broadcasting council Godfrey Mutabazi, in his address to media managers, has emphasized that the merger will benefit them more in terms of quality service in paying their licensing fees or for any consultations.

The Director Broadcasting council Suzan also stresses that the merger had stalled since 2005 when the parliamentary ICT committee and President M7 recommended the merger.

She also says that a centralized body regulating broadcasters will help check of the inadequacies within the broadcasting sector more so to developing it.

The post Uganda Broadcasting Council and Uganda Communication Commission to be merged first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.