The Media Council of Uganda has committed to censoring all unclassified films on Television stations starting February 1, 2024, following discussions with Pearlwood, an umbrella body of filmmakers in the country.

On December 4, 2023, Pearlwood urged the council, through a letter, to suspend its classification duties suggesting that they had failed to stop broadcasters from airing unclassified content despite prior appeals, reminding them of their mandate

Aisha Namatovu, the President General of Pearlwood, disclosed in a report after the December 11, 2023 meeting that the council resolved to prohibit broadcasters from using non-classified films.

"The council on behalf of government assured members that engagements concerning unclassified content have been happening with different stakeholders including but not limited to NAB and UCC and timelines have been set with effective 1st February 2024, no broadcaster will be permissible to broadcast unclassified content," Namatovu wrote.

However, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) was absent from the meeting, raising uncertainties about their compliance.

Joseph Beyanga, NAB's Secretary, emphasized that such a resolution required their engagement, asserting that they had not been formally notified. Beyanga pointed out that despite past discussions with the Media Council, no resolution had been reached.

"We have not received any notification about this. The last time we heard from Media Council was when they told us that we have a meeting about the same issue but the meeting never happened. We have had several engagements with them before, about this issue but have never discussed more. I do not think this resolution is effective because we are still continuous and engaging on  it," Bayenga said.

Kyetume Kasanga, the Acting Assistant Commissioner for Information Monitoring at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and Secretary to the Media Council, confirmed the resolution and defended the exclusion of NAB from the Pearlwood meeting.

Kasanga asserted that previous engagements with NAB had taken place and the Council's decision was specific to addressing Pearlwood's complaints about NAB members

"The meeting we had with Pearlwood was specific to them, excluding NAB because Pearlwood had been complaining about NAB members broadcasting unclassified films. It didn't require NAB to validate the Council resolutions with Pearlwood

It is  worth noting that engagements have been held before with NAB on the subject and the Council's decision is that all NAB members should broadcast classified films in accordance with the law. Council shall take action against non-compliance effective 1st February 2024. There shall be no further warning," Kasanga said.

Samuel Saviour Kizito, a filmmaker and founder of the Uganda Academy Selection Committee, expressed optimism that the council's decision would boost the local film industry by reducing space for foreign films.

 He hinted that the challenge of submitting foreign films for classification due to ownership documentation requirements would discourage broadcasters who would then resort to using local content.

For a film to be classified, it must be submitted to the Media Council with associated fees.

Kyetume Kasanga specified that Ugandan movies cost sh170,000  while foreign movies incur a fee of $ 200 ( Sh755,000)

The council's authority is derived from the Press and Journalists Act, which includes the review and rating of all visual, audio, and written content disseminated to the public across different platforms.