Kampala: Following Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) statement released yesterday reminding social media users to register their accounts for license if they intend to upload any content for public consumption, netizens have since had sleepless nights engulfed with all tribes of questions of why UCC issues such directives few months to the 2021 general elections.
In a constitutional response, UCC through its public notice asserted that sections 2, 5 and 27 of the UCC Act and Regulations 5 of the Uganda Communications (Content) Regulations 2019 mandates UCC to license, regulate and set standards for the provision of all communication services in Uganda, including radio communication and online broadcasting.
“The purpose of this public notice therefore is to advise all persons currently offering or planning to commence the provision of online data communication and broadcasting services including but not limited to blogs, online televisions, online radios, online newspapers, audio over IP, Internet Protocol TV, Video on Demand, Digital Audio radios and televisions, internet/web televisions to obtain authorization from UCC before providing such services to the public,” UCC’s notice read in part.
It is in that regard that the commission revealed that all persons engaged in the provision of the above services are accordingly advised to regularize their operations by obtaining the necessary authorization from UCC by 5th October 2020 and they are to pay Shs100,000 annually to obtain the license.
However, all the above created no kind words for UCC from the angry netizens who kept on wondering how it tends to regulate what is beyond its operations, though it tried to clarify that the new regulations are intended to promote and safeguard the interest of consumers, operators, viewers and listeners.
Among the many questions still trending on different social media platforms raised by angry netizens includes the following;
Ň¥ΔǤΔĦƗΜΔ;First beef up your cyber security before you make such absurd moves because all gov’t backed entities are really trying the average Ugandans’ patience. Every selfless honoring scheme soon comes to an end with harsh realities.
Legit Colonel; You buy data to use internet, you pay OTT to use social media, now u also need to pay to post on social media. This country should just be sold.
Jean Claude; You think the Internet was developed by UCC! Look how low you have gone. And you expect people to follow that rubbish! It’s disheartening to see educated people reasoning like peasants!
Mr. Lovelock; More to that; Media regularization that UCC can be involved with is that which is only Territorial; These other Social media platforms have their workings around Content put up and address greater privacy policy concerns. It’s absurd that UCC thinks it owns all.
Vicky:What kind of business is this???? What’s wrong with you people???
𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕜𝕒𝕞𝕓𝕚: How can you regulate what,you never created ie social media Blogging, I think this is just targeted to the people who are expressing their views about the current conditions in uganda,anyways good luck with that.
Kakeeto James: No matter how much the govt tries to stop Ugandans form exchanging information and expressing themselves, we won’t stop.
Rickman Manrick: wow I can’t believe this is happening in 2020 . Shame upon you for trying to silence talents and casual communications. Jesus of Nazareth is this really happening? I thought this was a joke Uganda North korea.
Vivian: Gov’t should just do what they always do, steal votes nakyo kigwe, instead of making our lives all miserable with laws and regulations targeting one person.
Herbert Chitepo; Your attempts to stifle the freedom of expression in Uganda are comical and futile. You expect authors of blogs and things like YouTube channels to seek authorization from you. Stop your hopeless attempts of stifling creativity by the youth in the name of protecting Museveni.
