The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has released a 273 page report detailing the findings and recommendations on the investigations it carried out on several TV and FM radio stations. Majority of the broadcasters that were investigated were found to have breached different laws, minimum broadcasting standards and license terms and conditions.
Thirteen broadcasters in Uganda were investigated by the commission. TV stations investigated included; NBS, NTV Uganda, Salt TV, BBS TV, Kingdom TV and Bukedde TV. FM Radio stations were Radio two (Akaboozi) Capital FM, Beat FM, CBS FM, Pearl FM, Radio Simba. According to UCC, the investigation on these broadcast houses was prompted by informal complaints from the Uganda Police force and other security agencies.
UCC also observed an increasing number of live programs, breaking news stories and prime news bulletins that are dominated by; fake alarmist news, anarchic messages, politically unbalanced and sensational content which could incite violence among the populous.
The investigation team physically visited the premises of the respective broadcasters and had the opportunity to verify their responses and submission, including recordings and technical reports made by the broadcasters. The team visited 11/13 broadcasters between 6/6/2019 and 20/6/2019 but didn’t visit Radio Sapientia and KTV premises as they failed to submit the required information on time.
Allegations, findings and UCC Recommendations
UCC reviewed the recordings and the responses from the respective broadcasters revealed the following summary of findings against the respective broadcasters.
| Broadcaster | Allegation(s) | UCC Findings | Recommended action |
| Bukedde TV | The manner in which Bukedde TV presented its news, specifically Agataliiko mu ttuntu, Agabutikiidde and Agataliiko nfuufu on 29th April 2019 was sensational, alarmist was partial to specific politicians, and was likely to incite violence. | 1. The manner in which Bukedde TV presented its news bulletins was likely to create public agitation 2. None of the news clips involving the rowdy crowds contained an official comment from the security agencies 3. Bukedde repeatedly used images from previous events 4. Bukedde TV gave biased and extensive coverage of specific personalities 5. Bukedde TV news contained several clips of rowdy youths engaged in running battles with the Police | 1. Bukedde TV had previously been warned against similar breaches, UCC recommended that Bukedde TV is given notice to show cause as to why the Commission should not invoke section 41 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013 against it. 2. It is recommended that Bukedde TV be required to train all its news reporters, producers and editor in professional reporting |
| NTV | 1. NTV gave biased and undue extensive coverage of personalities and events such as coverage of FDC and People Power activities 2. It was further reported that NTV programs such as NTV Akawungeezi and Live@9 sensationalized news stories 3. It was also reported that NTV was allowing members of its staff who were known persons of influence, to publicly declare their personal political views | 1. NTV gave undue coverage and prominence to particular individuals and activities. 2. NTV sensationalized news stories concerning the confrontation between Police and the rowdy crowds. 3. NTV glorified the confrontation between the Police and the rowdy crowds 4. It was confirmed that NTV has members of staff who are persons of influence, and who have publicly declared their political views | 1. NTV be given notice to show cause as to why the Commission should not invoke section 41 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013. 2. UCC recommended that NTV be required to train all its news reporters, producers and editors in professional reporting 3. NTV be required to exercise professionalism and demonstrate that it has adequate measures in place to ensure that news reporters, anchors, producers and editors remain impartial and non-partisan. |
| NBS TV | The manner in which NBS TV presented its news and other programs on the 29th April 2019 was sensational, alarmist and gave undue coverage and prominence to specific individuals and events, likely to incite violence. | 1. NBS TV sensationalized the events of 29th April 2019. NBS dedicated an inordinate amount of the prime news time to broadcasting rowdy crowds 2. NBS TV gave unwarranted and biased extensive coverage and prominence to individuals and events. 3. NBS TV failed to reasonably balance its news by ensuring that all key players are given due coverage. 4. NBS TV repeatedly aired images of beatings, teargassing, burning of tyres, erecting of barricades in roads and gruesome pictures of victims of violence | 1. NBS TV had previously been warned against similar breaches, it is recommended that NBS TV be given notice to show cause as to why the Commission should not invoke section 41 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013. 2. UCC recommended that NBS TV be required to train all its news reporters, producers and editors in professional reporting. 3. It is recommended that NBS TV be required to demonstrate that it has adequate measures in place to ensure that news reporters, anchors, producers and editors remain impartial and non-partisan in the course of their work. |
| Capital FM | It was reported that Capital FM, through its morning breakfast show presented by Gaetano and Lucky incited violence when the presenters made statements calling upon all musicians to demonstrate because their fellow artist, ‘Bobi Wine’ had been arrested by security forces. | 1. The programming of Capital FM of 29th April 2019 had not breached the minimum broadcasting standards. 2. Further review, however, revealed that indeed, presenters of the Morning Breakfast show had on 23rd April 2019 made statements, which had the potential to incite musicians to engage in unlawful protests against the arrest of Hon. Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine. 3. That the statements made by Gaetano and Lucky, however innocent, offended the minimum broadcasting standards | 1. Capital FM was cautioned. 2. Capital FM was required to train all its reporters; news anchors show hosts, producers and editors about the broadcasting standards and other related laws. |
| CBS FM | CBS FM included in its news bulletins stories that were not directly attributed to any particular source. | After reviewing the recordings and the submissions made by CBS FM, it was found that: CBS FM had indeed aired some news stories and comments without adequately attributing them to any specific source. | Considering the nature of breach found and the fact that the management of CBS acknowledged their mistake and undertook to improve the quality and style of their news reports, it is recommended that CBS should be cautioned against similar breaches. |
| Radio Simba | Radio Simba aired content that was likely to incite violence. | 1. Radio Simba had included in its news broadcasts of 29th April 2019, reports and audio recordings of gunshots that had allegedly happened during the exchanges between the Police and the rowdy supporters of the opposition leaders. 2. By relaying such content, Radio Simba’s listeners could have easily believed that Police was shooting at demonstrators | Considering the nature of breach found and the fact that the management of Radio Simba acknowledged their mistake and undertook to improve the quality and style of their news reports, it is recommended that Radio Simba should be cautioned against similar breaches. |
| BBS TV | The manner in which BBS TV presented its news and other live programs on the 29th April 2019 was sensational, alarmist and gave undue prominence to specific individuals and activities. This was likely to incite violence. | 1. BBS TV sensationalized news stories concerning the confrontation between Police and the rowdy crowds. 2. BBS gave undue and biased extensive coverage of particular personalities and events. 3. BBS failed to reasonably balance its news by ensuring that all key players are given due coverage. 4. BBS video coverage particularly glorified and glamorized the actions of the rioters. 5. BBS conducted several interviews from members of the public and relayed the same without exercising any reasonable editorial controls 6. BBS TV repeatedly aired images of beatings, teargassing, burning of tyres, erecting of barricades in roads | 1. BBS has previously been warned against similar breaches, UCC recommended that BBS TV be given notice to show cause as to why the Commission should not revoke their license 2. It is recommended that BBS TV be required to train all its news reporters, producers and editors in professional reporting |
| Salt TV | 1.The manner in which Salt TV presented its news and other programs on the 29th April 2019 was sensational, alarmist and gave undue prominence to specific individuals, and was likely to incite violence. 2. Salt TV did not provide any advisories to its viewers before broadcasting pictures and stories that contained violence and gruesome images. | 1. Salt TV sensationalized the events of 29th April 2019. Salt TV dedicated an inordinate amount of its prime news time to showing rowdy crowds engaged in running battles with the Police. 2. Salt TV gave unwarranted extensive coverage of individuals and events. 3. Salt TV failed to balance its news by ensuring that all key players in the story are given due coverage. 4. Salt TV repeatedly aired images of beatings, teargassing, burning of tyres, erecting of barricades in roads and gruesome pictures of victims of violence | 1. Salt TV has previously been largely compliant. 2. The management of Salt TV showed a lot of remorse for what happened on the 29th of April 2019 and undertook to put in place adequate measures to avoid a re-occurrence of similar breaches in future. 3. Salt TV was cautioned. 4. It is recommended that the management of Salt TV be required to train all its news reporters, producers and editors in professional reporting, |
| Beat FM | It was reported the manner in which Beat FM reported on the events of the 29th of April 2019 was unbalanced and contrary to the standards. | Beat FM was balanced in its reporting. No evidence was obtained to prove any breach by Beat FM. | No action should be taken against Beat FM since its content was found to have been in line with the law and the standards. |
UCC also recommended that there is a need to ensure that all broadcasters employ qualified personnel, who must be given employment contracts and paid decent salaries. The investigation revealed that most of the employees of the affected media houses did not possess employment contracts, which partly explains the lack of commitment to their roles.
The commission also noted that there is a need to ensure that all broadcasters employ qualified personnel, who must be given employment contracts and paid decent salaries. The investigation revealed that most of the employees of the affected media houses did not possess employment contracts, which partly explains the lack of commitment to their roles.
You can read the full UCC report here.
