Communications Sector watchdog Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has declared new license dues for FM radio stations plus those operating online. This follows a media stakeholder engagement with FM Radio managers and technicians held recently in Lira and Gulu. UCC has deep-rooted that it has extensively bench-marked the new licensing regime.
Radio flowered before the advent of Television and the Internet. Whereas some people have abhorred it, radio continues to thrive alongside these newer technologies. Rather than entertainment, now focuses on cultural broadcasts, education, public affairs, and the like. Uganda leads for the most liberalized broadcasting industry with about 292 licensed FM radios and over 35 Television stations.
Speaking about the matter, Ibrahim Bbosa explained that the new tax regime intended to provide proper monitoring, Inspections and content regulation of radio stations. Commercial radio license, Non-commercial radio license and for online radio categories comprise the new regime.
Noncommercial radio stations will pay UGX 2 million for the licence. However, this amount does not include the annual spectrum fees.
UCC will charge Commercial Radio Stations according to four tiers.
The commission subcategorized the commercial radio license basing on tiers. Different tiers will pay a different amount for the Commercial radio license.
Tier one includes National Radio which will now pay an annual fee of UGX 10Million to operate.
Tier two comprises of all FM radios from Kampala Region. These will each pay UGX 8 million annually.
Tier three embraces radio stations from Mbarara, Jinja, Lira, Mbale, Arua, Soroti, Gulu, Fort portal, and Masaka. These stations will pay no less than UGX 6 million each annually.
Tier four includes radio stations from other parts of the country. The new regime established that they each pay UGX 5 million annually.
Online Radios and new entrants not exempted.
Just like the rest of the communications sector, Radio has embraced the internet. Whereas online radio is not so popular in Uganda, it exists almost in the background.
However, UCC explained that they introduced a new radio license category for online radio. The only difference is that online radio providers will be granted authorization and not licenses. Each online radio station will be charged UGX 100,000 annually.
The charge for new entrants is a factor applied to initial entry fees, annual license fees and spectrum fees. Consequently, it may be slightly higher. “Factor: 1 for Tier 1, Factor: 0.8 for Tier 2 Factor: 0.6 for Tier 3 Factor: 0.5 for Tier 4.
Ibrahim Bbosa reiterated that regulation is important to ensure that broadcasting services safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, social and economic fabric of the country. UCC previously suspended 23 radio stations that didn’t follow the broadcasting framework. Consequently, the commission will make sure all stations comply to the new licensing regime.
