PRAU pushes for representation at decision-making level
UCAA spokesperson Mr Vianney Luggya addresses PRAU members during their benchmarking visit at Entebbe International Airport. Photo | Eve Muganga
What you need to know:
- The PRAU President, Ms Tina Wamala said that their visit helped them to interact with Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Public Affairs staff on how they managed and overcame the January 2023 airport crisis.
Public Relations Practitioners under the umbrella organization Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU), have urged their principals to consider having them at the top management level so as to enable them to support the decisions made adequately.
Ms Jennifer Kalule Musamba, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) spokesperson who doubles as the deputy secretary General of PRAU said: “We have realized the importance of having the head of PR as part of the top management team. They can influence key decisions and ensure that pertinent stakeholder engagements are undertaken.”
Ms Kalule who was speaking during the professional familiarization and benchmarking visit at Entebbe International Airport on Friday, noted that they also learnt of the need for PR practitioners from different agencies to support each other during times of crisis.
The PRAU President, Ms Tina Wamala said that their visit helped them to interact with Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Public Affairs staff on how they managed and overcame the January 2023 airport crisis.
“Our visit has been fruitful and has helped members to compare communication approaches because as an umbrella body that brings together spokespersons of different organizations, learning through capacity building and sharing of experiences with one another is a big part of what we do to improve,” she said.
UCAA spokesperson Mr Vianney Luggya, said that when faced with a crisis, the most important steps involve, "taking action, communicating consistently and in a timely manner, engaging stakeholders, and a post-crisis analysis of what was done well and what went wrong for better management in future."
The UCAA Procurement Manager, Mr Godfrey Lutimba Matovu commended PRAU for the various efforts towards ensuring that the PR practice is duly recognized as a profession through a bill that is currently getting stakeholder input.
“Whenever key stakeholders like yourselves are furnished with the right information in relation to the activities we are undertaking at Entebbe and the plans for the future, you become our brand Ambassadors to assist in conveying the right message that builds and enhances the image of the country,” he said.
PRAU members had a comprehensive tour of the terminal building (departures and arrivals), the Aircraft Parking Apron, the new Cargo Centre, the Crash Fire section and the Control Tower.
