Communication Stakeholders Tasks Government to Free Access for all local TV channels

Uganda Communication stakeholders have proposed free access for all local channels on different pay TV platforms operating in the country as a means of promoting digital transformation.

According to them, Ugandans are watching local channels on pay TV platforms yet the government has invested in the provision to watch them on free-to-air channels.

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They made the proposal on Thursday after recording a decline in gender and equity compliance from 67 percent in 2021/2022 to 60 percent in the 2022/2023 Post Budget Framework Paper. The assessment was conducted by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) under the digital transformation programme.

While engaging with the media, the Managing Director of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), Mr Winston Agaba, said Ugandans are watching local channels on pay TV platforms yet the government has invested in the provision to watch them on free-to-air channels.

“All Ugandans are subscribing to watch local channels, including the marginalized people, and it’s not by accident because all national programmes are supposed to be on free to air channel but no one is pushing for it,” he said

Mr Agaba added that as stakeholders, they feel frustrated because the government is not bothered about the subscription fees paid by Ugandans to watch local channels.

“The power of communication means that there is a need to improve our own platforms supported by all stakeholders and then look for content, which is educative and guides all the beneficiaries,” he said.

Mr Agaba added that all communications stakeholders have a responsibility in promoting gender and equity responsiveness.

“The role of the national broadcaster is to inform, educate, guide and entertain but unfortunately when the air was liberalised, there was a lot of excitement and people forgot that there was a need to have free-to-air,” he said.

Mr Agaba further added that digital television did not open the spectrum of the ICT sector to flourish but to have as many channels as possible but because of the subscription fees, Ugandans cannot watch all of them.

Mr Habiibu Sseruwagi, a member of EOC, said they will look into the proposal.

“It is very good that it has come out,  there is no way we can really give investors  for pay TV platforms a good working environment  and then they take everything away,” he said.