On 8 October 2019, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) announced that six broadcast stations in Uganda risked having their licences revoked after an investigation found they breached broadcasting standards while covering events following the arrest of pop star and presidential aspirant Bobi Wine.
Supporters of Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, held demonstrations in April in the capital, Kampala, after he was detained.
Bobi Wine has been a thorn in the side of President Yoweri Museveni since he was elected as an MP in 2017. He has been arrested several times and is currently facing a charge of 'annoying' the president.
The UCC found that NTV, NBS, BBS, Bukedde TV, and Radio Sapientia broadcasts broke various laws, including their license terms and conditions, and the Press and Journalists Act.
According to the UCC, the broadcasts contained 'misrepresentation of information, views, facts, and events in a manner that was likely to mislead or cause alarm to the public.'
UCC stated, 'The six broadcast stations must all show cause why the regulator shouldn't revoke their licenses.'
Another six radio stations were cautioned, while two others were cleared. The UCC report also recommended that the stations train their news reporters, producers, and editors in professional reporting to ensure compliance with the law and broadcast standards.
