Mr Godfrey Mutabazi is the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) since 2010. Courtesy Photo.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has issued new advertising guidelines to radio and TV stations in Uganda, reaffirming its stand against programs and adverts that promote satanism.
The guidelines, which according to a local news daily, came into force October 1, put a tight leash on what can be and what can’t be advertised or sponsored on a television or radio station.
The media regulator banned advertisements that promote psychic practices and those related to the occult which include satanism, casting of spells, palmistry, attempts to contact the dead, divination, the invocation of spirits or demons and exorcism.
According to the Observer Newspaper, the guidelines also prohibit sponsorship of news, current affairs and religious services on both radio and television.
Other must-not-be sponsored items include; parliamentary programmes; opening of parliament, highlights from parliament, select committee hearings, special committee of parliament, and commissions of inquiry.
“Broadcasters must ensure that the editorial integrity of their programming is not influenced by the sponsor,” the guideline document reads.
This new development has however been criticized by a section of TV and radio owners, with Captain Francis Babu, the former chairman of the National Broadcasters Association (NAB) and proprietor of Metro FM saying “Private media depends on advertisement to survive; if you begin limiting them, it means your aim is to fail them.”
“They don’t consult us, they just come up with things and then direct us on what to do,” Babu told the Observer.
Speaking to the same Newspaper, Kin Kariisa, the chairman of NAB and proprietor of Next Media, the owners of NBS, Salam, Sanyuka TVs and Next radio, said, “We were consulted.”
Article 41 (1 a &b) of the Uganda Communications Act, 2013, mandates the commission to suspend and revoke operating license of any media house on the grounds of serious and repeated breach of the license conditions, and any fraud or intentional misrepresentation by the operator.
In 2011, the Media Council also outlawed running adverts of traditional healers advertising their services but different radio stations in the country continue to run the messages.
In March last year, UCC suspended licenses of 23 radio stations for allegedly participating in promoting and advertising witchcraft content, aiding and abetting electronic fraud.
