{UAH} Revisit ban on community radios

By Ivan N. Baliboola

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) should revisit the ban on outdoor community radios to ease communication of government programmes. In 2017, UCC imposed a ban on outdoor community radios.
Outdoor community radios are megaphones fixed on long poles that broadcast information to the public.
The programming of the radios consisted mostly of local announcements on lost property, adverts, talk shows, sermons, education, and entertainment.

The move should be revisited. Section 26(1) of the UCC Act provides that "A person shall not install or operate a television station, radio station, or any related broadcasting apparatus without a licence issued by the Commission".

The ban on outdoor community broadcasters was a huge blow to Uganda as a democracy. It is said "Information is the currency of democracies." Information results in citizen enlightenment and empowerment. Outdoor broadcasters are not that bad. Some were not in residential areas. Consider those that were operating in markets or taxi parks, how were they a nuisance?

The only reasons fronted by UCC in a public notice for the ban was noise pollution and illegality. But the radio broadcasts can be allowed to resume to operate on clearly set terms. For instance, noise can be managed. UCC can allow only one radio in an area to avoid competition. Operating times can also be restricted to only daytime only.

Liberalisation of media in Uganda came with its challenges. We need a balancing act. These radios, should among others, focus on development. They should also reduce rates for adverts. People have to have a reason to tune in. Community outdoor radios should not compete for listenership, something that makes them drop development content for entertainment. Instead, they should deliver development and policy issues in detail.

There is no doubt that government officials are not keen enough in promoting and defending government activities on private radios. Yet these radios remain the cheapest and effective communication tool for government in urban and rural areas. They are good for mobilisation and sensitisation of wealth creation and other government programmes.

Actually, the President does not have to travel around the country teaching and addressing citizens all the time. Outdoor community radios can do the job better. This year, a local daily reported that Parliament approved Shs33 billion as additional budget for State House. The budget included Shs17.6 billion for Mr Museveni's field tours countrywide to sensitise the public about wealth creation. Why not use a fraction this money to revamp community radios for purposes of sensitise citizens.

Government can take over the establishment of such radios in every sub-county. If government people are not interested in using these radios, then let there be recorded programmes on health, agriculture, roads, politics, etc to be shared with citizens.

Outdoor speakers have the most uninterrupted reach which is key for government developmental but unpopular messages.

Ivan N. Baliboola,

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Allaah gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him."And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things." (6:17)

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