Advert
-->

UCC goes after media houses advertising vulgar concerts

News -->
UCC goes after media houses advertising vulgar concerts
UCC's Nyombi Thembo .

Going forward, media houses are not allowed to play adverts for concerts which have not been cleared by UCC.

Uganda Communications Commission has said going forward, no media house will be allowed to play advertisements for any concert that has not been cleared and issued with a special permit.

Addressing a stakeholders meeting in Kampala, UCC Executive Director, Nyombi Thembo said with artists, promoters or organisers now required to obtain permits before organising concerts , it will be mandatory that no media house will advertise the concerts without proof of the permit.

“Our role is to put laws into practice. It is not personalized but the law passed by parliament for which we are appointed to implement.  Now you won’t be allowed to advertise a concert without a permit. This extends to broadcasters, online platforms, billboards and any other forms of advertisement. Anyone involved in advertise business, before advertising any public play or concert you must ensure there is an entertainment permit issued by UCC .The advertiser must have a permit from UCC to advertise such a concert,” Thembo said.

Tightens noose

Whereas previously it was only concert organisers required to ensure they get permits, UCC now requires that media houses must ensure all adverts played are for only those that have been cleared .

The UCC Executive Director said broadcasters, will going forward, be required to file monthly reports of all public plays and concerts they have advertised and have permits issued by the UCC

“These reports should be filed before 14th of every next month. For example, the report for the month of December should be filed before January 14. In future we shall embed this in the licencing conditions of every broadcaster,” Thembo said.

“We ask media houses that no one is allowed to advertise their concert without showing them proof of permit.”

Thembo said they are going to put in place a QR code for media houses to verify the permits to avoid being duped by concert organisers, adding that the permit for organizing a concert will go for only shs100,000.

He said  KCCA and other local governments are also requested not to issue clearance for any concert or public entertainment event without proof of permits from UCC.

The UCC ED said to ensure they enforce this regulation, all senior officials at UCC, Regional Police Commanders ,District Police Commanders and officers in charge of stations  will be empowered to be inspectors.

Commenting about the move, the state minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara hailed UCC for efforts in promoting and preserving Ugandan culture.

Cultural preservation is crucial to ensure we maintain a sense of belonging and shared values among citizens of Ugandans. We need to protect our things like traditional music, dances etc. The time is now for us to act. Let us do a review of songs dangerous to society which can be performed at private parties but not public concerts and gatherings,” Baruhagara said.

“We don’t hate these artists but when it comes to a bad song, it is bad.”

Senior presidential advisor on creatives, Edrisa Musuuza, commonly known as Eddy Kenzo said whereas efforts to deal with vulgarity are welcome, the move to charge shs100, 000 for the performance permit is costly.

He said event organisers and musicians pay a number of taxes to government, noting that putting in place another tax is not right.

“We are over taxed. For example, before a concert, you are required to pay police for clearance, pay for counter terrorism officers to come and do a sweep but also man entrances. We pay RPCs, DPCs, DISOs, local council permits, for outdoor advertising, media houses, banners, NEMA and URA which takes 18% VAT. All these are taxes which go to government. We have many other expense which we think are too much for us,” Kenzo said.

“We pay one permit at over eight  stages but all this money goes to one person,  government. Now here comes UCC also asking us to pay for another permit. This needs to be rectified.”

Responding to the complaint by Kenzo, UCC ED Nyombi Thembo said the different stages at which artists or concert organisers pay permits operate under different regulations.

“We have different acts we are implementing. The point is noted that there are so many outlets but as UCC, these fees are there but not looking at them as a source of earning.”

Superintendent of Police, Mary Nankinga who represented police asked that more engagements be held to harmonise these requirements.

She said Police will always be available to enforce the available laws.

Joseph Kigozi, the  Deputy Group CEO at  Next Media Services  and  Vice Chairman for the  National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) said it is high time Uganda took a firm stance against vulgarity.

He however said musicians singing vulgarity should not be suppressed but rather advised on what to do.

“We don’t need to just stop them but we must talk and counsel these musicians involved in vulgarity.  This industry is young that we need everyone. Let us engage them. This is industry is big. As broadcasters we need to be careful on the kind of content we put out or else it become our culture that the outside world will know us for .We need to produce a product which is culture sensitive,”Kigozi said.

Reader's Comments

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST STORIES