The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Office of the President has reiterated its demands for th eRural Broadcasting Owners Association-RUBA to provide free airtime for the government.
RUBA are protesting a directive given to radio stations in the country to allocate free airtime for mobilization towards registration of Ugandans by the National Identification and Registration Authority-NIRA.
In their letter dated 5th October, RUBA members noted that radios are licensed as independent businesses with operational costs to meet through advertisement and other programmes. They argue that one of the biggest clients who can keep them alive is the government.
But in a response, Hajji Kakande Yunus, the secretary in the Office of the President noted that broadcasters under the law are obliged to allocate a minimum of one hour per week towards coverage of strategic national events such as the ongoing NIRA registration exercise.
Kakande, urged the Executive Director, of the Uganda Communications Commission-UCC to convene a meeting with RUBA to emphasize the need for demarcating at least one hour per week to cover the government’s critical programmes.
“Given the seriousness and urgency of the matter, I urge the Executive Director to keep me informed of the outcome of the shareholder’s engagement.” The letter said in part.
However, Julius Tumusiime, the chairperson of RUBA-Uganda calls the decision by the office of government as unfortunate calling upon rural broadcasters to join forces to combat the abuse that is threatening the stability of radio stations.
“If we don’t take immediate action, these stations risk closure. It’s critical to remember that the government is our primary partner in this endeavour and their support is vital” Tumusiime says.
Tumusiime says THE current directive to utilise airtime undermines the financial viability of radio stations asking the government to consider allocating resources to its entities for communication.
He says out of 215 RUBA members, only 23 stations are trying to break even with the biggest percentage only struggling to keep in business under the management of volunteers.
Owen Baluku, the programs manager at Light FM in Kasese municipality told URN that the one hour allocated to the government is being abused and making radios poorer.
He says it’s unfortunate that many government bodies run to RDC offices to lobby for free airtime and yet they have budgets for talk shows.
Nesta Larry, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Fort Portal City says he has shared with colleagues about the need to separate government hours from business pointing to the need to let radio and TV stations enjoy government business.
“By allowing every government agency access and use this free airtime we are suffocating and killing radio stations” Nesta noted.
