By Patrick Jaramogi

THE Government is to generate about sh40b annually from the television viewers licence. Each licence will cost sh20,000 per year.

The deadline for paying the licenses expires on August 31, while the crackdown on defaulters kicks off on September 1, Dr Nsaba Buturo, the information state minister (left), announced last week.

Mary Bryant, the TV Licence, managing director, the South African firm contracted to collect the fees on behalf of the Uganda Broadcasting Council, said in an interview on Friday that their survey indicates there are between 1.7 million and two million TV sets in the country. â€œThe number may be higher,â€ Bryant said.

She said the firm started collecting fees at the designated Post Office centers on August 1.

â€œThe response has been good though we need to do a lot of sensitisation. We have set up five centres at the general post offices in Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Mbale and Mbarara.

â€œThe number will increase to 20 by the end of August and to 50 by December,â€ she said.

Bryant said to clear the fees, TV owners go to the nearest post office with their TV serial numbers, any utility bill and a tax identification number.

She said upon payment, a receipt, which will act as a licence, shall be issued showing the expiry date.

â€œAll TV sets in a household must be paid for. We have imported modern gadgets to detect the number of television sets in any building,â€ she said.

Bryant said inspectors would move during day and on weekends when most people are at home to crackdown on defaulters.

Asked what the fees would be used for, Bryant said, â€œThe fees collected will be used to improve services of the state- owned television.â€

â€œThe fees shall be put to constructive use among which will include but not limited to improving the reception, quality of pictures, introducing educative programmes for children and boosting the antennae and satellite,â€ she said, adding, â€œIn the end, it will be cheap for Ugandans instead of paying $65 (about sh120,000) per month to watch quality programmes.

â€œThey will only pay sh20,000 per year for such programmes.â€
Bryant said the long-term project would benefit Ugandans.

According to Part VI of the Electronic Media Statute, a person shall not use, sell or transfer possession of his TV set unless he has a valid viewersâ€™ license.

Any person who contravanes this provision is liable to a fine of sh50,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 30 days or both.

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NewVision Reporter

@NewVision