The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has directed all online data communicators in Uganda to register within a month or face disciplinary action.
According to a March public notice issued in the print media by Mr Godfrey Mutabaazi, the UCC executive director, online media platforms must apply and obtain authorisation or else measures will be taken against those that do not comply.
“The purpose of this public notice, therefore, is to inform all persons currently offering or desirous of offering online data communication services, that in exercise of its powers under Section 6 (e) of the Uganda Communications Act 2013, the Commission classified online data communication services as communication services for which one requires authorisation from the Commission,” UCC notice reads in part.
“Online data communication service providers, including online publishers, online news platforms, online radio and telephone operators are therefore advised to apply and obtain authorization from the Commission,” it adds.
The commission set the deadline of April 2, 2018 or else the media sites will be blocked.
“Hence, under the Uganda Communications Act 2013, the provisions of any services that involve the communication to the public of any content, whether by way of audio, video, sound, still or moving pictures or a combination thereof, is a communication service that is subject to regulatory control of the Commission,” the notice further states.
