Radio Broadcasting

Uganda: Regulators Asks Radio Broadcasters To Re-Apply For Licenses

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) - responsible for regulating the telecoms and broadcasting industry in Uganda - has requested all radio broadcasters in the country to re-apply afresh for all licenses of their choice - and the have till 31 July 2020 to do so.
 
UCC says this re-licensing requirement is the result of the implementation of a new licensing fee structure for the commercial and communal broadcasting services. Also, the new licenses once approved would have a five-year validity, instead of the current one-year validity.
 
Acting Executive Director for Uganda Communications Commission said that the existing licensing framework had been made redundant by technology, and the new structure is aimed to facilitate a convergence that allows broadcast operators to provide varied services with just the one licence.
 
According to a briefing from the UCC,  it is understood that existing radio broadcasters will not be required to pay a license application or initial entry fees, they will only have to pay for the licences they apply for, which has, apparently, been reduced from to around 2 million Shs (US$ 500).