Uganda Communication Commission gets new Executive Director

Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has got a new Acting Executive Director, Irene Kaggwa, replacing Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi, whose tenure of contract expired last week after serving the communication regulator for 10 years.

Minister of Information and Communications Judith Nabakooba appointed Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo to serve as acting Executive Director as the board looks for a replacement.
Irene Kaggwa has been UCC Director for Engineering and Communication Infrastructure, until her new appointment.

Kaggwa has a vast experience in the ICT sector spanning policy development, research, regulation and implementation in various aspects including internet development, licensing, universal access, quality of service, numbering resource management as well as promotion of research and innovation.

An Engineer by profession, Sewankambo holds a Master of Science in Communications Systems and Signal Processing from University of Bristol in United Kingdom and a Master of Science in Economic Management and Policy (Business Economic Pathway) from University of Strathclyde in United Kingdom. She acquired her Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Makerere University Kampala. Prior to this appointment; Irene Kaggwa was the Head of Research and Development Unit as well as Coordinator of the Office of the Executive Director.

“Considering that the Executive Director’s tenure of office expires on February 9, 2020, he hands over office to avert an unlawful stay in office without a formal contract. That the Director, Engineering and Communications Infrastructure, Engineer Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo takes over as the Acting Executive Director until a substantive Director is appointed,” reads part of the February 7 letter written by Minister Nabakooba to the UCC board Chairperson Eng Dr Dorothy Okello.

According to the UCC Act, the Executive Director shall be appointed by the minister on the recommendation of the board.

“The executive director shall hold office for five years and shall be eligible for reappointment for only one further term,” the UCC Act reads in part. The Uganda Communications Commission was established to implement the provisions of The UCC Act 2013 in accordance with the Laws of Uganda, with the principal goal of developing a modern communications Infrastructure in Uganda, in conformity with the operationalization of the Telecommunications Policy.

The primary mandate of UCC is to regulate the Communications sector, which includes; telecommunications broadcasting, radio communications, postal communications, data communication and infrastructure among others.