KAMPALA, Uganda – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has shut down Mawokota FM, an unlicensed radio station operating on 94.9 FM in Mpigi’s Kayabwe Town Council, as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal broadcasters.
The enforcement operation, which included officers from the Uganda Police and UPDF, targeted the station reportedly owned by Mr. Ssali Umar, a political aspirant for a local council seat in Kayabwe.
According to officials, the station was broadcasting without a valid license.
Upon arriving at the station’s premises in Nabusanke village, the enforcement team, led by Denis Okalanga, encountered a tense situation. A young woman at the front desk, identified as Namawanda Doreen, refused to cooperate with the officials or disclose the manager’s whereabouts.
While Mr. Okalanga attempted to engage with her, a technical team located and shut down the transmitter, halting the station’s live broadcast of a sports program. Inside the studio, presenter Mubarak Ssebuwufu, 23, told officials he had worked at the station for only two months and was unaware it was operating illegally.
The team dismantled and confiscated broadcasting equipment, including the transmitter, a mixer, and a computer.
Ms. Namawanda initially remained defiant, prompting a security officer to warn her that her non-cooperation could lead to her arrest. She later admitted she had never seen a license at the station and believed one did not exist.
Mr. Ssebuwufu was issued a stern warning and released, with officials cautioning him about the risks of working for unlicensed broadcasters.
The closure drew criticism from a station fan, Mr. John Mulasa, who called it a “big loss” for the community, citing the station’s role in local announcements and development campaigns.
Ms. Namawanda later told reporters the station had been on air for nearly eight months and employed 13 people. She confessed her initial resistance was due to “fear and uncertainty” during the raid.
Following the operation, a UCC officer spoke with the station’s owner, Mr. Umar, by phone, advising him to follow up on the matter at the commission’s headquarters. Mr. Umar confirmed the shutdown and illegal broadcasting, stating he is working to resolve the issue with the UCC.
The raid on Mawokota FM is part of the UCC’s renewed effort to enforce broadcasting laws and ensure all radio stations comply with licensing requirements, regardless of their ownership or popularity.
Several other stations have been shut down in recent months for similar offenses.
