Sidney Miria Babanga
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I One of Uganda’s largest media houses, Vision Group, has appointed Sidney Miria Babanga as its new Editor-in-Chief in a leadership transition that is expected to shape the future direction of the country’s media industry.
Babanga will replace Barbara Kaija, who is set to retire at the end of June 2026 after more than three decades of service at the media conglomerate.
The announcement was made in an internal communication circulated on Thursday, May 7, 2026, by Vision Group Chief Executive Don Wanyama.
“At the end of June, 2026, Mrs. Barbara Kaija, our Editor-in-Chief, will retire after over 30 years of dedicated and sterling service to the Vision Group,” Wanyama wrote.
He added that the board had appointed Babanga “for seamless transition and to ensure continuity.”
The appointment is widely viewed as significant because it ensures continuity within one of Uganda’s most influential news organizations at a time when the media industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation and changing audience consumption habits.
Babanga, who currently serves as Content Manager for Special Projects, has spent 26 years at Vision Group and is regarded as one of the institution’s most experienced newsroom leaders.
According to the management communication, Babanga joined Vision Group in 2000 as a freelance journalist and steadily rose through the editorial ranks.
“He then served as a sub editor, Sunday Magazine Editor, Deputy Regional News Editor, Regional News Editor and Supplements Editor before assuming his current role,” Wanyama stated.
Media analysts say his appointment reflects the company’s preference for institutional memory, newsroom experience and editorial stability.
As the new Editor-in-Chief, Babanga will oversee editorial leadership across Vision Group’s newspapers, television stations, radio platforms and digital operations.
Wanyama said Babanga is expected to “provide overall editorial leadership, strategic direction and quality control for all content across Vision Group’s media platforms.”
He added that the new editorial head would also spearhead innovation and audience growth.
“Working with the team, he is expected to drive innovation, audience engagement, oversee cross-platform integration and ensure that we remain competitive, relevant and trusted,” Wanyama said.
The transition comes at a time when traditional media houses across Africa are increasingly investing in digital journalism, multimedia storytelling and integrated newsroom operations to respond to shifting consumer behavior.
Industry observers say Babanga’s long newsroom experience and background in special projects and regional news place him in a strong position to navigate those changes.
His appointment is also seen as a vote of confidence in internal talent development within Vision Group, where many senior editors have risen through the organization’s editorial structure.
Meanwhile, Kaija’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished journalism career that has spanned more than 30 years.
Born in 1964, Kaija joined Vision Group in 1992 and became one of the most recognizable and respected female media leaders in Uganda.
Over the years, she served in several editorial capacities, including Features Editor, before eventually becoming Editor-in-Chief following the departure of former editor Els de Temmerman.
During her tenure, Kaija played a central role in shaping editorial policy, newsroom standards and content quality across the company’s various platforms.
She also oversaw the media house during a period of significant transformation in Uganda’s media landscape, including the expansion of online journalism and multimedia broadcasting.
Wanyama praised Kaija for what he described as selfless service to the organization. “On behalf of the board and management, I congratulate Sidney on this promotion,” he said. “I pray that we offer him all the support needed to successfully execute his new assignment.”
He added: “I also immensely appreciate Mrs Barbara Kaija for her selfless service to the Vision Group. We shall celebrate her appropriately in the coming days.”
Kaija’s rise through the newsroom ranks has often been cited as an example of professionalism and resilience in Uganda’s journalism profession, particularly at a time when few women occupied top editorial positions.
Her retirement therefore marks not only a leadership transition at Vision Group, but also the close of an important chapter in Uganda’s media history.
For Vision Group, the appointment of Babanga is expected to ensure continuity while positioning the company for the next phase of digital growth, audience expansion and editorial innovation in an increasingly competitive media environment.
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