By Eriah Lule and Yasiri J Kasango
The Alumni Association of Uganda Christian University (UCU) is set to directly benefit from a partnership recently reached between the UCU administration and the executive of Next Media services, during a visit of the latter to the University, on May 20, 2021.
The UCU Alumni Association has secured free air time, of that provided to UCU, on the media companies’ broadcast outlets, to make relevant communications to its audiences about association activities. This is courtesy of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Vice-Chancellor Associate Professor Aaron Mushengyezi and the Next Media services CEO, Kin Kariisa.
“It will enable us to sensitize the alumni fraternity and other members of the community about ongoing events,” said Harriet Asiimwe, the Alumni Relations officer.
“We shall at least profile one successful Alumni every month on the air play provided for UCU’’, she added.
The alumni association, led by Emmanuel Wabwire, the chairperson, believes that this partnership will help them boost their manifesto to establish the association’s relevance, presence and vibrancy amongst the UCU fraternity-in, outside Campus and even at the constituent colleges.
While UCU on her part, among other things, has proposed to offer short training courses to Next Media staff, at a subsidized fee during the two-year- initial working relationship between the two organizations, Next media will provide internship and job placements for UCU students in its various departments.
“We have worked with UCU even before this partnership, so whatever goals set to achieve, we shall both gain and establish strong ties,’’ said Kin Kariisa, the CEO Next Media.
He further said, “We have seen UCU through its alumnus currently working within our offices; ranging from their self-conduct and motivation towards work, it’s an out-standing University.’’
The Next Media visit follows an initial one by Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi and a UCU staff delegation to the Next Media Headquarters, at Naguru, two months ago.
This visit is a fulfillment of a longstanding promise, dated March 30, by Next Media Group management to visit UCU with its media personnel including radio and Television personalities among others, who would speak to and inspire students as they aspire for careers in the media.
Among the media personnel that were in attendance were: Joseph Sabiti- a talk host on NBS Television, Dalton Kawesa- Head of current affairs at NBS, Marcus Kwikiriza- a presenter and General Manager Next Media Group, among others.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
