The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on January 17, issued a directive prohibiting the advertisement of concerts without proper permits issued by the commission.
The move is part of UCC’s efforts to regulate the entertainment industry and ensure the promotion of morally acceptable content.
While addressing a stakeholders’ meeting at UCC House in Bugoloobi, the UCC Executive Director, Nyombi Thembo, announced that artists, promoters, and event organizers are now required to obtain permits before holding concerts.
He further stated that no media house will be permitted to air promotional content for any event that has not been approved and issued a special permit by the commission.
“Our role is to put laws into practice, so 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 the advertising business, before advertising any public play or concert, must ensure there is an entertainment permit issued by UCC.
The advertiser must have a permit from UCC to advertise such a concert,” UCC ED said.
The permit, which costs UGX 100,000, must be obtained through an online application process. UCC Executive Director stated that this measure is aimed at curbing the promotion of vulgar and morally questionable content in the entertainment industry.
To ensure compliance, UCC is introducing a QR code system that will allow media houses to verify the authenticity of permits, protecting them from being misled by organisers.
The commission also warned that failure to adhere to the new regulations will attract severe penalties, including imprisonment for offenders.
He stated that KCCA and other local governments have been directed not to grant clearance for any concert or public entertainment event without proof of a permit issued by UCC.
Nyombi Thembo added that, to ensure effective enforcement of this regulation, senior UCC officials, regional police commanders, district police commanders, and station officers in charge will be empowered to act as inspectors.
Artists and event promoters are urged to comply with the new requirements or risk legal action. In addition, media houses will now be required to submit monthly reports detailing all concerts they have advertised.
While some stakeholders welcomed the move as a step toward maintaining ethical standards, others voiced concerns over what they described as burdensome regulations. Participants in a recent dialogue urged the government to streamline revenue collection, citing the challenges of multiple taxes that affect their operations.
Eddy Kenzo, the president of the Uganda National Musicians Federation, commended UCC’s efforts to preserve the nation’s culture and morals. However, he expressed concern over the burden of heavy and multiple taxes, noting that musicians are already paying various taxes to different government entities. He suggested that the government streamline the process by designating a single entity to collect all these fees.
“For every event, we pay permits from NEMA, permits from police, permits from counterterrorism, URA, KCCA, LCs, clearance for banners, outdoor advertisement licenses, among others, and now UCC permits. How can we thrive when we are taxed like this from every corner?” Kenzo said. He pointed out that excessive taxation is one of the reasons some artists resort to singing vulgar content, as they rely on stage performances for income and need to capture fans’ attention to earn a living.
On his part, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, commended UCC for its 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 Uganda. 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 that can be performed at private parties but not public concerts and gatherings,” Balaam said.
Despite these concerns, many in the industry pledged to collaborate with UCC in promoting moral values while continuing to advocate for reforms to ease their work environment.
