Frank Mugabi, Head of Communications and Public Relations at the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Abiaz Rwamwiri, National Drug Authority spokesperson, Solomon Muyita, the Ministry of Energy Spokesperson and Police spokesperson, who deputizes Enanga, ACP Claire S. Nabakka, have been elected as the heads of the Government Communications Officers Forum (GCOF) secretariat for a tenure of two years.

Mugabi, who was elected President, ACP Nabakka as Treasurer, and other elected communication officers were elected on Thursday, March 21, 2024, during a GCOF retreat held in Moroto last week.

The Secretariat will serve as the operational and coordinating hub for government communicators, ensuring alignment with the GCOF Constitution and executing the strategic objectives outlined in the GCOF’s Strategic Plan for 2024/25–2026/27, which were adopted during the retreat.

Following the election, Mugabi promised to offer his best abilities to head what he termed a historical move that would galvanize government communication.

“As government communication officers, what we are doing here is writing history that will be remembered as having harnessed the communication function using collaborative efforts within government entities and MDAs,” Mugabi said in one of the sessions during the retreat.

The NARO senior PR officer is going to be deputized by Belinda Michaels Atim, the spokesperson of the Microfinance Support Centre, who was elected as Vice President of GCOF.

During the retreat that was organized by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in partnership with the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), the elected leaders were tasked by PS Dr. Aminah Zawedde to create a bedrock of collaborative relations among all government communication officers.

Deputy Director General of ISO, Col Emmy Katabazi, who was a co-host, encouraged GCOF members in the retreat to widen up their scope by looking at themselves as one team that communicates for the government.

Specifically referring to Karamoja, he also encouraged members to be revolutionary by appreciating where Uganda has come from and therefore proudly showing the nation to the world on all platforms and opportunities they get.

The GCOF secretariat, after full establishment by law, a process that is ongoing, will be charged with providing strategic leadership to all government and district communication officers, coordination of GCOF activities, collaboration and stakeholder engagement, capacity building, crisis communication and policy advocacy, and evaluating the impact of government communications sent out to different audiences.

Other elected members of the GCOF Secretariat include General Secretary Solomon A. Muyita (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development), Publicity Secretary Sharp Robert Mugabe (Government Citizen Interaction Centre), Deputy General Secretary Dorcus Magoba, Deputy Treasurer Comfort W. Akoragaye (Ministry of Local Government),  Deputy Publicity Secretary Jessy Grace Ofwoni (Ministry of ICT), Wilfred Ssenyange (Uganda Broadcasting Corporation), Local Government Representative Evalyne Akudo, and Executive Advisor J.J. Bakalikwira (Ministry of ICT).

Committee members include Dennis P. Katungi and Abiaz Rwamwiri.