NAB halts ban on coverage of Government activities

The group had threatened to stop giving coverage to Government events until President Museveni rescinded his mandate that all Government advertisements go through the Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation (UBC).

According to NAB Secretary-General Joseph Beyanga, the restriction has been lifted temporarily as a result of efforts made by the Government to resolve their concerns.

"In accordance with the foregoing and in good faith, we have decided to lift the ban temporarily in order to create a reconciliatory atmosphere when engaging the government and during the meetings." "After careful consideration, we have decided to lift the ban or blackout on coverage of government activities until the meeting with H.E. the President," the statement reads in part.

Earlier, NAB had petitioned Parliament to look into the matter.

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, told members of parliament that NAB had written a letter to her office requesting Parliament’s intervention into the issue. Among other things, she directed the parliamentary Committee on ICT and National Guidance to look into the issue.

"The petition regards the Government policy on business to private media houses, where all the ads are supposed to only be given to two Government media houses," said Among.

The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, issued a circular dated Monday, July 10, 2023, directing all Government of Uganda accounting officers to give Government advertisements to only UBC and Vision Group (New Vision).

Private broadcasters, however, said the move blocks them from benefiting from Government advertising and have since announced a boycott of coverage of Government activities until the directive is reversed.