Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has announced tough new measures targeting television, radio, and online broadcasters found in violation of minimum broadcasting standards.
The crackdown follows growing concerns about the increasing airing of inappropriate and offensive content across various media platforms.
While addressing journalists at UCC House in Bugoloobi, the UCC Executive Director, Nyombi Thembo, expressed concern that inappropriate messages, indecency, and offensive or obscene content in the form of music and audio broadcasts are increasingly becoming a cultural norm in the industry.
Nyombi said that “There’s a resurgence of offensive, obscene, indecent and distressing material in the form of music, audios, videos and interviews across various media platforms including scantly dressed performers engaging in sexually suggestive dances and songs laden with explicit sex and inappropriate messages on our airwaves.”
“It looks like a television house or a radio station when you don’t do this, it looks like you haven’t done your work. It’s now becoming a sort of a culture matter in the industry, and it looks like we are competing against each other. Who does it best?,” he noted
According to him, despite earlier appeals for media houses to uphold minimum broadcasting standards, no improvements have been observed.
“UCC has previously issued warning and reminders about this behavior but some broadcasters continue to disregard these warnings.” He said.
The UCC Executive Director announced that media outlets will no longer be permitted to broadcast such content, emphasizing that it directly violates the minimum broadcasting standards outlined in Sections 31 and 34 of the Uganda Communications Act, 2013 which stipulates that broadcasters to ensure that all programs aired align with public morality. “Additionally, this content breaches the Uganda communication content regulation 2019,” he added.
The commission instructed all media outlets to ensure that their content, including music videos, talk shows, and entertainment programs, is vetted and classified by the Uganda Media Council before being aired.
“All broadcasters including radio and online, are hereby directed to ensure that all content, including music videos and audios, is properly classified by the media council before being aired in accordance with the praise and the journalist act.” Nyombi Thembo said.
The UCC Executive Director announced strict measures, including severe penalties for media outlets that violate these guidelines, warning that these measures may include license revocation.
“Failure to comply, will have consequences that includes, suspensions, license revocation, fines and you know we have powers to fine any broadcaster upto 10% of your annual gross revenue and this is under the law. We should now touch where it pains most. We shall go for fines, we are now going for the maximum because the problem is failing to go down.” He added.
He further explained that the commission doesn’t intend to make life very difficult for for Ugandans, but aims to preserve our culture, especially, ensuring that children are not abused.
“We don’t want to stress these young people with the content that is not beyond their pay grade, we have to protect them.” He said.
This move is part of the commission’s strategy to uphold professionalism in the media and protect audiences.