KAMPALA, UGANDA – Uganda’s communications regulator, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has launched a nationwide enforcement operation targeting illegal and non-compliant broadcasting operators.
The operation, announced by UCC’s Head of Public and International Relations, Ibrahim Bbossa, aims to shut down unlicensed radio stations, megaphones, and telecom transmitters disrupting public order and peaceful communication services.
Seventeen pirate radio stations, identified in Masaka, Mubende, Greater Masaka, and Luweero, have been operating despite cease-and-desist notices issued in January 2024 and criminal summonses in July 2024.
“These illegal operators are disrupting public order and peace,” Mr. Bbossa said.
The use of megaphones, notorious for disrupting public order and peace, is prohibited by law. They are not licensed by the UCC or any other entity in Uganda to provide broadcasting services.
The UCC will confiscate equipment used in illegal operations. Individuals found conducting illegal broadcasts face fines of up to 30 million Ugandan shillings ($8,000), imprisonment for up to five years, and prosecution under Sections 26 and 27 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013.
Unauthorized transmitters installed on building rooftops in downtown Kampala, operating without licenses, will be taken down. These devices interfere with licensed operators’ frequency bands, disrupting lawful services. Telecom operators providing services without licenses risk heavy fines and imprisonment for up to four years.
The UCC advises illegal and non-compliant operators to cease operations and apply for licensed frequency and spectrum. Alternatively, operators can apply for an online radio license with a fee of 100,000 Ugandan shillings ($27).
This crackdown comes as Uganda’s communications sector continues to grow, with increasing demand for radio and telecom services. Experts warn that pirate operators pose a significant threat to public order and the country’s economic development.
