By Spy Uganda
The Rural Broadcasters Association has threatened to sue the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance over COVID-19 media campaigns unpaid airtime.
This has been revealed in an intention to sue notice inked by Ms Odokel Opolot & Co.Advocates on behalf of broadcasters who claims that for almost a full year, the Ministry has refused to clear their funds totaling to 20% of the agreed budget.
”We act for and on behalf our client Rural Broadcasters Association on whose imperative and stern instructions we address you as hereunder; It’s within your knowledge that our client through its several media outlets rendered services for the COVID-19 media campaign managed by you between 2020 and 2021 and it’s also within your knowledge that you have not the remaining 20% owned to them despite several and numerous reminders,” reads the notice.
”As you are aware, the respective media outlets religiously rendered their service to your during the said period wherein you started paying them discretely by emitting the first installment of 60% in the month of March, 2021 and another, 2021 leaving the said 20% unpaid for a period of over one year,” adds the notice.
The Broadcasters say to their shock and surprise, the Ministry discriminately made full payments of 100% to only urban broadcasters.
”You have since behaved like termites that cause destruction underneath yet pretend to be innocent as our clients are aware that all the proceeds were remitted to you but you deliberately choose to divert the same for your own selfish benefit,” adds the notice, ”your wrongful actions have left our clients languishing in debts due to accumulated bills from utility companies, taxes, service providers and staff salaries among others while “you chop their hard earned money with a big spoon”.
Now, the Broadcasters have given the Ministry seven days to pay their money or else face rule of law.
‘‘Our instructions are to demand that you immediately admit liability and remedy your mischief by paying the respective media houses the said balance of 20% together with our legal fees of 5,000,000 so far, within a period of 7 days from
the receipt of this letter. Should you fail to heed to our stern instructions, we shall remain with no options but unleash the full force of law against you at your cost,” states the notice.
