News

UBC To Pay Basajjabalaba Shs11billion

1 Mins read

Members of Parliament have asked the Ministry of Finance to provide Shs11.2 billion to Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) to pay arrears owed to businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba.

The MPs on the Committee on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) told Finance following a presentation by ICT Permanent Secretary, Vincent Bagiire who said that UBC TV needed to be revamped to make it efficient.

“UBC needs to decommission a lot of its old equipment especially old masts that are a technological and environmental hazard,” said Bagiire adding that “the masts need to be repaired; new antennas to be bought and other vital equipment be replaced.”

Committee members asked the Finance Ministry team led by Secretary to the Treasury, Keith Muhakanizi why money had not been allocated to help revamp UBC.

“We want to make sure that UBC becomes self-sufficient. It should be able to make money and even contribute to the national coffers but it has to first correct these issues,” said Committee Chairperson, Hon. Annet Nyakecho.

She also demanded to know why money that was owed to Basajjabalaba had not been paid.

Muhakanizi informed the Committee that the Speaker had directed the Ministry to pay Shs11.2 billion as arrears to Basajjabalaba following the flawed sale of UBC land in Bugolobi.

Muhakanizi added that although they had been instructed, the Ministry of Finance had not made the payment.

“We admit that we should have consulted the Minister; however, we did not pay the money because we were tipped off about the Supreme Court ruling stating that the land deal was illegal. We asked the Attorney General for guidance on how to proceed,” he said.

Hon. Maxwell Akora however, said that the Speaker only gives recommendations but does not direct the Ministry on what to do. He blamed Muhakanizi for not consulting the ICT Ministry.

Parliamentary News

Related posts
EntertainmentNews

World of Sounds Concert Returns to Kampala with International Headliner

1 Mins read
The World of Sounds concert series is set to return for its second season on August 29 at the Sheraton Hotel Gardens,…
News

Mubaje Commends NIRA’s Biometric System, Urges Ugandans to Embrace National ID Registration

1 Mins read
The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, has praised the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) for the efficiency of its…
NewsPolitics

NRM Taps into Creative Arts to Boost Grassroots Mobilisation

2 Mins read
In a bid to deepen its grassroots mobilisation strategy ahead of the 2026 general elections, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has officially…