The minister of information and national guidance Mary Karooro Okrut has called for an immediate investigation into the 74 million dollars which was budgeted for the digital immigration.

While appearing before the parliamentary committee on presidential affairs, Okrut said the inspector general of government is investigating the required sum of money following the questioning of the money by the parliament accounts committee.

She told the committee that the money was arrived at after the feasibility and comparative study carried out by the Uganda Broadcasting cooperation.

She said the investigation should be expedited so that the process of getting the required finances is finalized.

UBC which was given a monopoly to supply signals to broadcasters after migrating from analogue to digital, requested for 74 million US dollars. The money is to be borrowed from Exim bank of China.

Karooro told the committee that if all the necessary facilitation for digital migration is availed, the government shall be in position to beat the 31st December 2012 deadline for digital migration which was set for the countries in the East African community.
By Mugisa Isaac Mathias