The Managing Editor for SoftPower News and CEO of SoftPower Communications LLC, Sarah Kagingo is the new President for the body that brings together Public Relations and Communications practitioners.
Kagingo was elected President of the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) on Saturday after securing a landmark victory in a race of two. She was against former UMEME’s Manager for Stakeholder Relations, David Birungi.
The elections to choose the new governing council were held during the PRAU Annual General Meeting at Fairway Hotel in Kampala.
Kagingo garnered 51 votes while Birungi got 17 votes. She will be deputized by MTN Uganda’s Communications and Corporate Affairs Manager, Val Oketcho.
Kagingo, who formerly worked at State House as the Special Presidential Assistant in charge of Communications, is credited for digitizing President Museveni’s communications and making the Presidency more interactive through new media.
Kagingo is a PR and communications professional with a big online following. She has often used her social platforms to promote Uganda’s natural beauty as well as all positive aspects of the country. Aside that, she runs SoftPower Communications LLC, a digital communications consultancy agency.
She is a former guild president of Makerere University.
Among her campaign issues was the need to reach out to more corporations to boost membership, engaging government on statutory recognition for professional service associations, a home for PRAU, accreditation to international bodies and a strong secretariat.
In her immediate reaction to Saturday’s win, Kagingo who used #Kagingo4President as the campaign hashtag, said; “I have nothing but heartfelt gratitude for your support, for the faith you have in me and for your votes. You’ve made the bold and right decision to vote me and I’d like to use this opportunity to thank you very much.”
“We’ve made it. We’re finally here. And so the journey begins. The journey to put into action every item on our manifesto,” she added.
“I thank all candidates who came forward to serve our association. To my contender David, thank you for making the process worthwhile. I will need you and all of you colleagues for PRAU to thrive,” Kagingo said before inviting David to join her at the podium.
She also thanked the outgoing Governing Council led by Cynthia Mpanga as well as previous councils pointing out that the former President Gorettie Masadde who was in attendance, as well as those before, envisioned excellence. She said she would build on their “much – appreciated” contribution.
Below are the members of the new PRAU Governing Council
President – Sarah Kagingo
Vice President – Val Oketcho
Secretary General – Eddie Oketcho
Deputy Secretary General – Sheila Naturinda
Treasurer – Charles Nsamba
Director, PR – Simon Kasyate
Director, Programs – Sumin Namaganda
Director, Discipline – Alfred Geresom Musamali
Students Representative –
1. Kezia Koburungi, KIU
2. Roland Ssebuliba, Ndejje University