New vision

The ***New Vision*** is a Ugandan English-language daily newspaper. It was started in its current form in 1986 by the Government of Uganda. It is the main newspaper of Vision Group, a media company owned by the government. It is the main newspaper of Vision Group, a government-owned media company. Together with its private competitor, the *Daily Monitor*, the *New Vision* is one of the two biggest newspapers in Uganda.

## History
The New Vision started a long time ago during the colonial period. Before it, there was a newspaper called the Uganda Argus, which was started in 1955 by the British colonial government.

Following Uganda's independence in 1962, the government of President Milton Obote retained the *Uganda Argus* as its official paper. After the 1971 coup, the government of Idi Amin renamed the paper the ***Voice of Uganda***. When Amin was overthrown in 1979, the succeeding government named it the ***Uganda Times***.

When the National Resistance Movement (NRM) took power in 1986, the newspaper was renamed *New Vision*. Over the years, under different names, it has always worked as the official newspaper for the government in power.

## Ownership and corporate structure
The *New Vision* is published by the **New Vision Printing & Publishing Company Limited (NVPPCL)**. This company is listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange with the symbol NVL and is also known as the Vision Group. The Government of Uganda owns most of the company, with 53.3% of the shares. The other 46.7% are owned by different investors, including companies and individuals.

Vision Group is a large multimedia conglomerate with a portfolio that includes:
***Newspapers:** Besides the flagship *New Vision*, it publishes Uganda's leading vernacular daily, *Bukedde* (in Luganda), and regional papers such as *Rupiny* (Luo), *Etop* (Ateso), and *Orumuri* (Runyankore/Rukiga).
***Television:** It operates several TV stations, including Bukedde TV, TV West, Urban TV, and TV East.
***Radio:** The group owns a network of radio stations across the country, such as Radio West and Bukedde FM.
***Digital Platforms:** A significant online presence through its main news website, mobile applications, and social media channels.
***Commercial Printing:** A major commercial printing division that serves government and private clients.

## Leadership and editorial
The leadership of Vision Group has changed a lot over the years. William Pike, who joined the newspaper early on, later became CEO. Many people say he helped keep some independence in how the paper was run. He resigned in October 2006, with reports saying the government was putting pressure on him.

Pike was succeeded by Robert Kabushenga, who served as CEO for over 14 years, from 2007 until his resignation in January 2021. In April 2021, **Don Wanyama**, who was then the Senior Presidential Press Secretary to President Museveni, was appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of Vision Group.

**Barbara Kaija** has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the *New Vision* since 2010. Media scholars and watchdog groups often contrast its coverage of political affairs with that of the privately owned *Daily Monitor*, which typically offers more critical perspectives on the government.While it provides extensive coverage of government programs and officials, the newspaper also engages in investigative journalism and covers a wide range of social, economic, and cultural topics, maintaining a large readership across the country.

## Digital presence
In response to changing media consumption habits, Vision Group has invested heavily in its digital platforms. The *New Vision* website (newvision.co.ug) is one of Uganda's most visited news sources. The group also operates mobile apps, paywalled e-paper services, and maintains a strong presence on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, where it distributes news and video content to a large online audience.

## References