Vision Group will usher in a new editorial era at the end of June 2026 when long-serving Editor-in-Chief Barbara Kaija retires after 34 years at the media house.
The board of directors has appointed veteran journalist and media strategist Sidney Miria Babanga as her successor, in a transition aimed at ensuring continuity at one of Uganda’s leading multimedia organisations.
Babanga, currently the Content Manager — Special Projects, brings more than two decades of newsroom and editorial leadership experience to the role. He joined Vision Group in 2000 as a freelance journalist and steadily rose through the ranks, serving as sub-editor, Sunday Magazine Editor, Deputy Regional News Editor, Regional News Editor and Supplements Editor.
As Editor-in-Chief, he will oversee editorial operations across the Group’s newspapers, television, radio and digital platforms, with responsibility for strategic direction, content quality, innovation and audience growth.
Management said Babanga is expected to strengthen cross-platform integration and position the organisation to remain competitive, credible and relevant in an increasingly dynamic media environment.
“On behalf of the board and management, I congratulate Sidney on this promotion,” the statement said. “We pray that we offer him all the support needed to successfully execute his new assignment.”
Kaija leaves behind a legacy that spans more than three decades of newsroom leadership and editorial excellence.
She joined the New Vision in 1992 as a sub-editor trainee before rising to Deputy Features Editor and later Features Editor, a position she held for ten years. In 2006, she was appointed Deputy Editor-in-Chief and, four years later, elevated to Editor-in-Chief.
Over the years, Kaija became one of the country’s most respected newsroom leaders, steering Vision Group through major shifts in the media landscape, including the transition into multimedia and digital journalism.
She is also credited with mentoring generations of journalists and upholding editorial standards that strengthened the Group’s reputation as a trusted news brand.
Management paid tribute to her “selfless service” and said plans are underway to celebrate her contribution to the organisation.
“We immensely appreciate Mrs Barbara Kaija for her dedicated service to the Vision Group,” the statement said. “We shall celebrate her appropriately in the coming days.”
