BROADCASTERS IN NORTHERN UGANDA URGE UCC TO REDUCE COST OF OPERATIONS

Victoria Ssekandi head licensing and regulatory affairs of the commission and Paul Mukasa the Manager multimedia content monitoring during the engagement.

By Anslem Ojaru

Arua City

Broadcasters in the northern region are asking for government’s support towards struggling media houses.

At a stakeholder’s engagement with Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), broadcasters raised issues of high fees paid to the commission which is affecting the radio stations that are already struggling.

Ongorok Obin the director of Karibu FM in Abim says much as the stations may be commercial, some of them are disadvantaged by their location.

“Some of the radio stations are in very disadvantaged places like mine in Abim and that in Moyo, if the government is to look at all radio stations like the ones in Kampala or Arua city, then some of the rural areas cannot be served so our point of view is that government should consider reducing the cost of running these rural radio stations,” Ongorok said.

Jonathan Driliga the news editor at Arua One FM says the regulatory body should be considerate of the financial status of the struggling media houses.

“It is important that UCC considers the financial health of these institutions because you cannot regulate an industry that is struggling, because of this struggle many industries are closing, many are abdicating from their role, part of the reasons why out of 70 stations in Northern Uganda according to UCC, less than five are actually compliant, so it is really important for UCC to pay kin attention on the financial health,” Driliga noted.

Victoria Ssekandi head licensing and regulatory affairs of the commission however asked media houses to operate within the strategized UCC regulatory guideline.

“Meet the specific standard to provide that service wherever you want to provide it, if you started a community radio where you know it is not about making  money, therefore you should look within your system  and see how you want to run that station  as I originally said there are costs that will not go away, they must be factored in  at some point , we recognize what you have raised the requirement by government to  assist stations especially in the marginalized areas because they are not making money that is something at the policy level,” Ssekandi stated.

During the meeting, UCC emphasized their continued mandate to regulate the communications sector to ensure fair competition, consumer protection, and the provision of quality services.