The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has given up to June 30 for online media operators to formalise and get operating licenses.
The revelation was made during the sensitization engagement of online publishers in the country.
The ultimatum was given following overzealous unprofessionalism, blackmail and extortion exhibited by some of the publishers.
George William Nyombi Thembo, the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission said he noted that UCC doesn’t intend to guard the media or stifle freedom of expression but to establish a proper working arrangement that benefits both the regulator and the online media service providers.
“We encourage those who are currently not licensed to take the necessary steps to regularise their operation in accordance with the law. We only have 38 online publishers who have some kind of license, yet there are more than 200 in this space. We encourage all operators to collaborate with us in this endeavour,” he noted.
He noted that as regulators, they are entrusted with the vital role of ensuring that the communication sector operates smoothly and effectively as mandated by the law. Everyone operating within the sector should be informed about the legal framework to ensure compliance and foster a cooperative relationship between the regulator and the service providers.
The UCC Act Regulation 2019 was established to protect and promote the interests of viewers and listeners. The regulations are designed to ensure that the content you provide meets the necessary standards. It also aims to protect various groups, including children, by preventing exposure to harmful content such as pornography, glorified violence, offensive communication, and material that could create public insecurity. By adhering to these standards, we can create a safer and more restricted online environment for all of us.
“People who give us news online should embrace high standards of professionalism. Professionalism should not be compromised. When you are in a media space, giving everybody an equal opportunity when you are reporting on something is paramount,” he said.
“We want to be looked at as professionals, and that is the journey we want to walk. When we walk that journey, it will help us regulate you together. He noted that because the ICT space is so wide, we cannot have the resources to regulate everybody,” he said.
He urged online journalists to be knowledgeable; you can’t know everything. If you don’t know something, ask people who do.
“Form organisations for the first level of regulation amongst yourselves, just like medical practitioners regulate themselves under the medical council; core regulation is on another level; and the third level is headed by the UCC”.
