Uganda Communications Commission has announced a crackdown on media houses and other broadcasters airing out explicit content.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, UCC Executive Director, Nyombi Thembo said despite several reminders, a section of broadcasters has adamantly refused to heed to minimum broadcasting standards, especially against offensive, immoral and explicit content.
“A country without morals becomes hollow. The Bible has it that hollow cities have been destroyed like Sodom .. Much as those are spiritual, what we read is that a community or country that doesn’t follow rules it has set itself it is poised from anarchy. That’s why there must be laws, regulations and policies. They are made in such a way that they don’t encroach on people’s rights but balance between rights and responsibility. Whereas we have talked much about this, many broadcasters have failed to heed to our calls,” Thembo said.
The UCC ED said having realized that immorality is becoming the order of the day, they have decided to crack the whip against perpetuators.
“It is now becoming sort of cultural matter in the industry and seems to be competing against each other on who does it better. We can.t allow this to continue. Broadcasting such content is in direct contravention of minimum broadcasting rights. UCC has now decided to take action against those that have failed to abide by minimum broadcasting regulations.”
He said going forward, a all content to be broadcast must be passed through the Media Council to classify it.
“All broadcasters are hereby directed to ensure that all content, including music videos and audios is properly classified by media council before being aired in accordance with the Press and Journalist Act.”
UCC said failure to comply with the directive will see broadcasters’ licences revoked while others will be issued fines of up to 10% of their annual gross revenue.
This, was, Nyombi Thembo said broadcasters and media houses will be forced to heed to the laws and regulations of the land in regards broadcasting standards.
