KAMPALA– Revamped state run-Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation (UBC) has tapped Cedric Babu Ndilima to head the corporate communications, sales, and marketing team.
Babu has joined UBC at a time when it is undergoing a major restructuring that saw bigwigs including Maurice Mugisha joined as the deputy managing director after leaving NTV, where he headed the news department.
Cedric Babu is also the president of the Uganda Tennis Association and the chief executive officer at Kinetic Events Management, a sports and entertainment events company.
He studied Business Administration at Bethune Cookman University, with a commendable marketing profile.
He has also worked with big brands including Airtel, Heineken, Rwenzori, and Castle Lite among others.
In September of 2017, ICT and National Guidance Minister Frank Tumwebaze set up a UBC revamp team after a 2016 committee chaired by Dr. Peter Mwesige, the executive director of African Centre for Media Excellence, recommended streamlining of human resource and TV programming at the public broadcaster.
The Mwesige committee, among other things established that UBC was saddled with debt, operated in breach of laws and flouted best corporate governance practices.
It was also revealed that UBC remunerated its staff poorly; defaulted on remitting their pension contributions; most employees lacked employment contracts; while some board members lacked required skills to provide effective oversight.
On a recent visit to the UBC, Minister Tumwebaze was impressed by the progress, praising the appearance of the studios and the digitization of UBC archives.
However, on Friday, Uganda Media Centre Executive Director Mr Ofwono Opondo blasted UBC reporters, and also accused them of always arriving late at news events.
Ofwono said UBC reporters including Camera-persons are always the last to arrive at News conferences even at the nearby Uganda Media Centre.
“Usually, @ubctvuganda [UBC TV) reporters and cameramen are the last to arrive at news conferences and events even at a nearby venue like Uganda Media Centre,” Ofwono twitted.
