Govt toughens on local media content

Kampala.

The government yesterday moved to compel broadcasters to abide by a directive to dedicate 70 per cent to local content even as the media houses pleaded for more time to comply.

In 2013, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the regulator of the communications and broadcasting sector in the country, issued the directive which would see media houses prioritise local over foreign content. The move, according to UCC, would among others, enhance culture and national identity.

Speaking during the annual meeting of National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in Kampala, UCC executive director Godfrey Mutabazi vowed to take action against broadcasters who fail to implement the directive.

“Media houses continued broadcasting more of foreign content despite the directive,” Mr Mutabazi said.

“We are going to ensure everybody complies or else we shall not renew their licenses,” he added.

Last year, UCC published a local content quota monitoring report for 2015 with none of the television stations in the country hitting the 70 per cent target.

UCC expects local drama to contribute 50 per cent of TV broadcasting, 10 per cent airtime to be dedicated to local documentaries while local children’s programmes and sports should contribute five per cent each with foreign content taking up the remaining 30 per cent.

Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa who represented Information and ICT minister Frank Tumwebaze, said giving preference to foreign content was derailing Uganda’s culture and social heritage.

“Most of the broadcast content today is largely foreign and this has negatively impacted on our values,’’ she said.

Media managers speak out
The NBS television news manager, Mr John Baptist Imokola, says broadcasters in the country need more time to produce good content that can attract audiences.

He emphasised that media houses could not compel people to watch locally produced programmes when they are boring and of poor quality.

Mr Imokola suggested that the commission should instead opt to tax more those who won’t be able to broadcast local content instead of reversing their licenses.

In an interview, Ms Justine Nakuya, the programmes manager of WBS television, said the directive was good but needs government support to be realised.

‘Government should support private television and radio stations on local production because local content is expensive,” she said.