Are you generating, publishing and disseminating content on any online platform such as YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter in Uganda?
Are you licensed by the Uganda Communications Commission or you are treating yourself as a private overzealous online space user?
Its time out! The UCC has ruled that all persons generating, publishing, and disseminating content online are broadcasters in scope who must apply to the communications sector regulator to be licensed before they broadcast.
The landmark ruling comes in a case where a complainant against radio and television stations sought to include an online channel Kasuku Live run by Dembe Fm and Spark TV presenter Isaac Daniel Katende a.k.a Kasuku.
Senior Presidential Advisor Odrek Mugisha Rwabogo in his complaint against Mr. Tamale Mirundi (also presidential advisor) wrote to UCC accusing media houses of failure to restrain Mirundi, a regular guest/panelist on their stations from attacking and defaming him among other public officials.
He sought Ugx 500 billion in damages for malicious propaganda that has not only affected his reputation and his businesses but also his family. Rwabogo says that the accusations that he deals in human trafficking, sale of human organs, commandeers all business sectors such as beef, fish, diary among others is malicious and challenges media houses to produce evidence to that effect.
Besides radio and television stations, Mr. Rwabogo accuses proprietors of the YouTube broadcast on Kasuku Live of similar offenses. UCC on May 18 summoned all media houses for a hearing and extended the same to Kasuku Live through their lawyer.
Kasuku contended that they are out of out of UCC’s mandate prompting the regulator to invoke legal interpretation in defense. This was intended to exclude online content generators such as YouTube.
In the framing of issues for determination for the May 18 hearing, issue No. 3 reads “whether an entity can provide broadcasting services without acquiring a license or authorisation issued by the commission”.
Does a content generator broadcasting on YouTube such as Kasuku Live need a license from UCC?
Don’t miss our part 2 to be published tomorrow. We bring you the ruling by the regulator requiring YouTube channels in Uganda to seek UCC license or close shop.
So sad . Now where is the freedom?
High tax paid and again seeking licence first . 😭😭
Who bought Uganda and which intentions did he have?