Directives by the UCC as contained in the statement by its ED Mr. Thembo Nyombi dated Tuesday 10, February, 2026, are in violation of the Constitution under Articles 29(1)and 41.
They are no different from those issued by the former UCC ED Eng Godfrey Mutabaazi in April 2019, directing 13 Broadcast Media operators to sack 39 Media Practitioners for airing undesirable content. They were eventually declared Un Constitutional, Irrational, Illegal and Excessive by the High Court, from the petition filed by the Uganda Journalists Association against the Uganda Communications Commission, and thus quashed.
They raise concerns of censorship, intimidation, interference in journalism independence and editorials, as well as limiting the flow of diverse views from the legacy Media space which is virtually a market place for all ideas and opinions.
We therefore, protest them considering their adverse effects, including undermining the Media watch dog role and other cardinal roles.
UCC Directives Are Unconstitutional, Threaten Media Freedom
