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By Mulengera Reporters
ICT Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has unequivocally stated that all media operators and broadcasters-be they TVs, Radios or even online broadcasters-must out of duty, subject themselves to the authority of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) because it’s the GoU agency mandated to regulate all of them.
Baryomunsi made this clarification during the Regional Broadcasting Stakeholders Engagement for the Kampala region which UCC, whose officials have been in all the other regions of Uganda participating in similar sessions, organized at Imperial Royale on Friday.
The Minister, who days earlier attended a similar engagement with broadcasters from Western Uganda in Mbarara City, told a story about a popular and senior radio journalist (presenter) from his native Kigezi who shocked everybody when he got the microphone to rant and speak on top of his voice while inappropriately claiming that UCC had no authority over him.
That same broadcaster had weeks earlier been suspended from continuing with his very popular morning program after the Commission got sustained complaints. He saw the Mbarara session as a platform to come and vent out his anger and resentment towards UCC. Minister Baryomunsi vigorously pushed back against him at the Mbarara session.
Baryomunsi told participants at Imperial Royale on Friday that he was shocked at the extent of ignorance and indifference the gentleman, who has been a broadcaster for decades and has worked at no less than 3 radio stations, exhibited regarding the mandate of UCC.
He made it clear UCC has a mandate to execute and they represent government in everything they do. “How do you question the capacity in which UCC is coming out to enforce minimum broadcasting standards upon breach by yourself when actually they are the mandated agency of government to do exactly that?” Baryomunsi called on the Executive Director Nyombi Thembo to ensure that every broadcaster by whatever name called-be they radio, TV or online-gets licensed upon meeting all the licensing conditions and requirements.
Baryomunsi said that no one should intimidate the Commission while claiming to be a Minister, MP or anyone else with strong connections to him or any other big person in government. “Please get out and do your work the way you have been doing clamping down on whoever doesn’t meet the license requirements to be on air. I have had cases of ministers and MPs coming to me to say please call those people of UCC and ask them to let me be. I have been firm and told them to comply and simply do what the regulator is telling them to do. There are simply no short cuts about that.”
He made it clear that whoever gets caught breaching the broadcasting laws and regulations should simply carry their cross, regardless of who they are, because communications and broadcasting is something very important which the GoU can’t accept to go unregulated. He said disinformation and hate speech, which thrive in unregulated environments, can incite people into violence which can lead to the destruction of the country and thereby threatening peace and security of Uganda as a country.
Baryomunsi implored the regulator (many of whose top officials were present including ED Nyombi Thembo, Economic Monitoring Director Julianne Muheirwe and Head Communications Ibrahim Bbossa were present) to equally be vigilant on those broadcasting via radio, TV and online, which is a rapidly growing aspect of the country’s media ecosystem.
The Minister also reminded owners of radio stations of their licensing conditions which oblige each one of them to offer free airtime of one hour of prime time per week. This is used to enable government officials at the national level and upcountry to communicate the government business and mobilize the population to demand for social services.
Baryomunsi told radio owners that they risked license revocation in case they renege on this since the same is part of their licensing conditions. “Even when you have a valid license that is running, it can be revoked and taken away from you in case you breach any of the licensing conditions,” Baryomunsi warned.
Besides him, other government officials who spoke at the event included Defence spokesman Gen Felix Kulaigye, EC’s Julius Mucunguzi, Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke, UCC ED Nyombi Thembo, Minister Milly Babalanda and others.
A lot of the messaging was focused on the need to ensure that the 2026 elections end peacefully, with media owners being called upon to deliberately play some role to ensure all goes well. On behalf of broadcasters and media owners, NAB’s Dr. Kin Kariisa of Next Media and Dr. Innocent Nahabwe of Galaxy media also spoke as did Mr. Julius Tumusiime who is the chairman for Rural Broadcasters Association (RUBA) which unites all broadcasters upcountry. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
