At the start of this week, the Communications regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), UCC ordered media houses to only air gossip shows between 10pm and 5am, adding that any media house that fails to adhere to the directive will be at risk of losing its license.
The commission in its directive says that such gossip shows have often failed to meet the minimum broadcasting standards, saying that they contain adult content and vulgarity which at times disturb and harm some sections of the public. This is according to the UCC spokesperson Ibrahim Bbossa.
“We have segments of our society that need to be protected. Information that has sexual innuendos, for example, has to be aired past the watershed period (10 PM to 5 AM). This doesn’t mean you (media houses) should share X-rated content,” Bbossa added.
This was said yesterday as he was hosted on one of the TV morning shows.
He later added on saying that they have not suspended the gossip television shows but rather asked for their rescheduling.
UCC says that they have a duty to protect the public, especially the children and therefore there was a need to regulate the programs further.
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