The Uganda Communications Commission has directed the Monitor Publications to desist from publishing and offering data communications services on its online newspaper platform.
The publication is accused of a number of offences including spreading fake news against the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, Rebecca Kadaga, alleging that she acquired services from a witch doctor back in the early 1990s, for which she allegedly didn’t pay.
In a letter dated 6th February 2019, the commission’s Executive Director – Godfrey Mutabazi stated that the speaker had filed a complaint to the commission a couple of days back about the story.
Additionally, UCC alleges that Monitor Publication operates its online newspaper illegally. The ED cited UCC’s notices to all data communication service providers in a directive to register and obtain authorization to operate, to which the company is accused of failing comply.
Suspension
UCC has directed Monitor Publication to immediately suspend its online newspaper services until it obtains a requisite authorization form the commission.
“In order to avoid a recurrence of similar breaches during the investigations… the Commission hereby directs that Monitor Publications should immediately SUSPEND any further provision of online data communications services (online newspaper services) until Monitor Publication has applied for and obtained the requisite authorization from the Commission in accordance with law and the Commission’s earlier public directives.”
The company has also been asked to defend itself within 5 days in regards to the publication made on the Speaker of Parliament – especially on why it failed to balance the story before publishing.
The commission has threatened to issue regulatory sanctions on the publication if the demands are not met.
“Please note that should Monitor Publications Limited fail/or otherwise refuse to comply with any of the above directives, the Commission shall proceed to determine this compliant and may issue any regulatory sanctions in accordance with Section 41 of the Uganda Communications Act, 2013.”
