The Executive Secretary of the Media High Council (MHC), Patrice Mulama, has been suspended with immediate effect.
The Executive Secretary of the Media High Council (MHC), Patrice Mulama, has been suspended with immediate effect.
Emmanuel Mugisha, who was the Director of Media Development and Professionalism at MHC, will take over.
Arthur Asiimwe, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, MHC, said Mulama’s suspension was in line with government’s prerogative to ensure that the institution is run in an efficient manner for better output.
"Mulama was a senior government official, and as you know, the government has the powers to appoint, reshuffle or fire any of its officials if need arises,” Asiimwe said.
"Therefore, within its mandate, the government made changes in MHC in which Mulama has been suspended and a new acting Executive Secretary appointed.”
When contacted, Mulama confirmed that he indeed had been asked to hand over office.
"I can confirm that I have handed over the MHC office, but I cannot provide further details,” he told The New Times.
Mulama served as Executive Secretary of MHC since 2003, a year after it had been established as an autonomous body to promote press freedom and professionalism.