Advisory Letter to Broadcasters

Our Ref: CMM/433

20^th March 2020

To the Management of all Radio, Television and Online

Broadcasters in Uganda

Dear Sir/Madam,

COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS AND BROADCASTING STANDARDS

Uganda Communications Commission (the Commission) is mandated under Section 5(1)(x) of the Uganda Communications Act 2013, to set standards, monitor and enforce compliance relating to content.  In fulfillment of this mandate, the Commission has, over the years developed various Standards and Guidelines applicable to the broadcasting sector in Uganda.

The Standards so developed are intended to guide broadcasters in ensuring that all the content broadcast on their regulated platforms complies with the laws of Uganda.  The Act obliges each broadcaster to comply with the respective standards.

To improve the awareness by broadcasters of these and the different legal and regulatory provisions pertaining to content, the Commission has deemed it necessary to provide you with a reference of these:-

• The Constitution of Uganda of 1995.
• The Uganda Communications Act, 2013
• The Anti-Pornography Act 2014
• Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019
• The Penal Code Act, Cap 120
• The Press and Journalist Act, Cap. 105
• The Computer Misuse Act, 2011
• The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006
• The Press and Journalist (Amendment of Fourth Schedule), Statutory Instrument No. 5 of 2014.
• The Advertising Standards, 2019.
• Standards for Religious Broadcast Programming.
• Standards for General Broadcast Programming in Uganda.
• Best Practice Guidelines for Electronic Media Broadcasters for Coverage of Live Events.

• Code of Conduct for Media in Uganda during the Electoral Process.

Copies of the above can be downloaded from the Commission’s website;

You are further reminded about the obligation to ensure that information is not disseminated or any allegation made without establishing its correctness or truth.

Thank you for your cooperation thus far.

Yours faithfully,

Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo

Ag. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR