The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has suspended the broadcasting license of Radio Hoima, one of the biggest stations in the western region.
The Commission is citing programs aired on the radio, that are “sectarian, inciteful and promoting ethnic prejudice.”
UCC in a statement said they received complaints from listeners about a program that was promoting violence.
“The complainants have expressed concern that Radio Hoima is hosting on its radio members of the public calling themselves members of “BUKITEREPA” who are uttering statements that are sectarian, inciteful and promoting ethnic prejudice,” the statement read.
UCC Executive director Godfrey Mutabazi says they sat and reviewed the content and confirmed that the statements and utterances made during the programs were sectarian, and promoted violence and ethnical prejudice amongst the public.
“These statements or utterances are in breach of the Minimum Broadcasting Standards as provided for in Section 31 and Schedule 4 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013.”
Citing Section 41 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013, Mutabazi suspended Radio Hoima’s broadcasting license pending investigations into this matter.
“The Commission here by directs Radio Hoima to cease operations with immediate effect. You are further directed to provide all recordings of all programmes where your radio station has hosted members of “BUKITEREPA” in the last 60 days in accordance with Section 29 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013.”
The Radio now risks having its license totally revoked if they don’t comply with the UCC demands.