The UgIn a public notice issues on Wednesday the commission also wants pay televisions to ensure that 20% of their bouquet offering carries Ugandan channels.

The UCC says the move is aimed at ensuring that the communications sector plays its role in promoting national development.

The new quota regulations take effect on January 1st 2014, but it remains to be seen whether and how broadcast stations will implement the regulations, and whether UCC will be able to monitor effectively and bring those not fulfilling to do so.

The UCC statement is here below in full

LOCAL CONTENT BROADCASTING QUOTAS

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is the regulator of the communications sector in Uganda. UCC was established to monitor, inspect, license and regulate the provision of communication services in Uganda, including broadcasting.

The Commission recognises the role local content plays in promoting national development. Given the cultural and linguistic diversity of Uganda, it is important that broadcasting stations in the country emphasise content relevant to the local audience and produced under Ugandan’s creative control.  This local content will promote national culture, pluralism and diversity. It will also enhance the employment capacity, identity of the nationals as well as develop our local film industry.

Accordingly, the Commission has set the following local content quotas which all broadcasters must comply with effective January 1, 2014:

1. Free to air broadcasting televisions stations

A television licensee must ensure that an annual average of 70% of its programming during prime time (6.00 p.m 11:00pm) consists of Ugandan television content.  In compliance with the above set 70% quota, for different genres the following quotas are set:

a)       50%-Drama ,comedy and reality show programmes

b)      10%-Documentary programmes consists of Uganda documentary programming;

c)       5%- Sports’ programs consists of Ugandan sports.

d)      5% -Children’s programs consists of Uganda children’s programming

2. PAY TV Subscription

A subscription television broadcasting licensee must ensure that a minimum average of 20% during the Ugandan television performance period, measured over the period of a year, consists of Ugandan television content.

3. Independent productions

Television broadcasting licensees must ensure that at least 40% of their Ugandan  television content programming consists of programs which are independent productions and are spread reasonably between, where applicable, Ugandan drama,  documentary and children’s programming .

The quotas have been set after benchmarking with other countries like South Africa, Australia, Tanzania, Canada and Spain and through consultations with broadcasters, independent producers and other stakeholders in the  broadcasting sector.

The Commission will from January 1, 2014 assiduously monitor the compliance of these quotas making a periodic review on a quarterly basis. The necessary regulations based on which local content rules will be developed are being worked upon.

The Executive Director

Uganda Communications Commission

UCC House

Plot 42-44 Spring Road, Bugolobi

P. O. Box 7376, KAMPALA

Tel: +256-31-2339000; +256-41-4339000

Fax: +256-41-4348832

E-mail: ucc@ucc.co.ug Website: www.ucc.co.ug