The Uganda Broadcasters Association on Friday voted to maintain its leadership team, with Dr Innocent Nahabwe re-elected as chairman alongside most of his previous executive.
Dr Nahabwe, who acknowledged facing significant challenges during his first term, said the association is entering the new term with renewed unity and improved engagement with authorities.
“We have engaged the security apparatus and we agreed to have a more peaceful election, and I think so far so good,” he said after the vote.
During the AGM, NAB Board of Trustees chairperson Kin Kariisa delivered a firm warning about the worsening signal distribution crisis that continues to affect broadcasters, particularly free-to-air stations.
He singled out UBC and Signet—the government-linked signal distributors—as the core of the problem.
“Disband UBC or Signet, or fund it. Because you can’t be a sole signal distributor and you cannot distribute a signal,” Kariisa told members.
Government officials present said they were aware of the breakdown in transmission infrastructure and promised a complete overhaul of the system.
Moses Watasa, the Commissioner for Communication at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said the Ministry of Finance had already approved mechanisms to procure new transmitters.
“We have a grand master plan to overhaul the entire system,” he assured broadcasters.
Members also urged government to ring-fence communication budgets for media houses to ensure effective public messaging and provide financial stability to struggling outlets.
Broadcasters further pushed for a five-year tax waiver on broadcast equipment to support industry recovery and growth.
They were, however, encouraged to modernise their platforms as the media landscape becomes increasingly competitive, with bloggers and online content creators sharing the same audience space.
The AGM also heard calls for the Uganda Communications Commission to enforce regulatory compliance among online broadcasters, including tax obligations, noting that traditional media houses continue to shoulder a heavier regulatory and financial burden.