By Spy Uganda
Former BBC journalist Alan Kasujja has officially assumed office as Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, pledging sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening and streamlining government communication across the country.
Kasujja, who was appointed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in January, takes over leadership at a time when the role of public communication is rapidly evolving. He replaces Obed Katureebe, who had been serving in an acting capacity following the departure of Ofwono Opondo. The handover ceremony was presided over by ICT and National Guidance Minister Chris Baryomunsi, alongside senior ministry officials including Permanent Secretary Aminah Zawedde.
In his inaugural remarks, Kasujja signaled a decisive shift in approach, declaring that his tenure would not be business as usual. He called for adequate and readily available resources to enable the Media Centre to effectively champion the government’s voice and national agenda.
“This is not just a mere change of guard. This is a fundamental change. It is not business as usual. Uganda is at an inflection point, and the story we tell about our country and how we tell it will shape the decade ahead,” Kasujja said.
He emphasized the need for a unified communication strategy, warning that fragmented messaging across ministries and agencies undermines public trust and weakens government credibility.
“We want to see a government that speaks with one voice. Fragmented messaging is not only inefficient, it erodes public trust. Competing voices across institutions undermine credibility, and this is an issue we are going to address,” he added.
Kasujja also highlighted the importance of aligning communication with Uganda’s broader development agenda, pointing to key sectors such as agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development, and science, technology and innovation as central to the country’s growth ambitions. He noted that effective communication would play a critical role in shaping both domestic confidence and international perception.
“Speaking with one voice is not about uniformity, it is about coherence. It is about being heard and understood. It is about building trust and delivering impact,” he said, adding that Uganda’s global image must be strengthened through deliberate and consistent messaging.
Minister Baryomunsi welcomed Kasujja’s appointment, noting that the changing media landscape demands stronger coordination and more strategic communication from government institutions.
“We now have hundreds of radio stations, numerous television channels, and a wide range of digital platforms. Social media has transformed how information flows. This makes it necessary to have strong systems to coordinate communication,” Baryomunsi said.
He proposed that the Uganda Media Centre could take on a more structured role in consolidating key national issues and guiding messaging across ministries to ensure consistency and clarity.
Permanent Secretary Aminah Zawedde also pledged full support to the new leadership, emphasizing that communication today extends beyond government messaging to shaping the country’s overall image.
“Communication is no longer just about government. It is about how the entire country is perceived. This transition comes at a time when public communication matters more than ever, especially in an environment shaped by emerging technologies,” Zawedde said.
Kasujja’s appointment marks a significant moment for Uganda’s communication strategy, with expectations high that his media experience and reform agenda will usher in a more coordinated, credible, and impactful government voice both locally and internationally.
