The government has summoned Uganda communications commission (UCC) to discuss matters regarding providers of online data communication and broadcasting services to obtain authorisation.
This has officially revealed by state minister ICT Peter Ogwang today while addressing the media in a weekly NRM party media briefing saying, they are to meet officials from UCC tomorrow 15th Tuesday of September, 2020, following cabinet meeting to be held today 14th September, 2020.
UCC was established under section 4 of the Uganda communications act, 2013 (the act) as the regulator in the development of the modern commutations sector that includes telecommunications, broadcasting, Radio communications, postal communications, data communications and infrastructure.
In accordance with section 2,5 and 27 of the Act and regulation 5 of the Uganda communications (content)regulations 2019, UCC is mandated to license, regulate and set standard of the provision of all communication services in Uganda , including radio communication and online broadcasting. Regulation of communication services is intended to promote and safeguard the interest of consumers, operators, viewers and listeners.
It is the same note where UCC advised all persons currently offering or planning to commence the provision of online data communication and broadcasting services including but not limited blogs, online televisions, online radios, online newspapers, Audio over IP(AOIP), internet protocol TV (IPTV), video on demand (VOD), digital audio radios and televisions, internet/web radios and Internet/web televisions to obtain authorization from UCC before providing such services to the public.
Recently UCC urged all persons engaged in the provision of the above services to expeditiously regularise their operations by obtaining the necessary authorization from UCC by 5th of October 2020, despite many NGOs, and various individuals oppose the directive.
Meanwhile the line ministry of ICT through the state minister Peter Ogwang says, they are in preparations to meet UCC officials on Tuesday to discuss more about the matter.
” we have already summoned UCC on Tuesday of 15th, September, 2020, for further engagement and discussion over matter,” he said.
