UCC cracks down on illegal and non-compliant broadcasters

September 17, 2024- Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has launched a crackdown on illegal and non-compliant radio broadcasting across the country.

The UCC Executive Director, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, announced the move during a press conference held in his office at Bugolobi on Tuesday.

Non-compliant radio stations are broadcasters that were granted frequency assignments but are no longer operating within the terms of their licenses. Non-compliance includes failure to obtain annual compliance certificates, failure to pay license fees, exceeding their broadcast power, overmodulating, operating without key technical components such as bandpass filters, and deploying non-type approved equipment.

Non-compliance also includes broadcasting content that is contrary to the minimum broadcasting standards. These acts of non-compliance undermine the integrity of the broadcasting sector and cause signal interference with other licensed operators, thus affecting the quality of service of the affected networks.

On the other hand, illegal radio stations are radio stations that operate illegally. They were never granted any frequency assignment or approval to operate. They self-assigned the frequencies, and their actions greatly interfere with other duly licensed operators. They also affect critical users of frequencies such as aviation and some security services.

The Executive Director told journalists that Uganda Communications Commission has commenced enforcement activities against the concerned illegal and non-compliant operators, which will include shutting them down, confiscating the illegally operated equipment from the illegal stations and prosecuting the offenders.

He called on all operators engaged in illegal or non-compliant broadcasting activity to stop henceforth or else they will be stopped at their own cost and prosecuted accordingly.

Some of the affected radio stations include: