UCC, Kadaga at odds over noise pollution ban

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has hit back at Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga over the ban on outdoor radio communication systems.

UCC argues that it's implementing the mandate of regulating communication as well as fighting noise pollution in communities.

"UCC mandates are established by the law, therefore there's no need to consult Parliament while carrying out our operations," Paul Mukasa the manager content regulation at UCC said.

Recently Kadaga while officiating a fundraising function in Kayunga district, castigated UCC for the ban wondering why it carried out an operation without the knowledge of Parliament.

Mukasa said the outdoor communication systems don't fulfil the requirements of the law hence their ban. He said since the bodies embarked on the ban, over 150 installments have been confiscated whereas about 140 have been voluntarily removed by owners.

"Some people have responded positively by removing the outdoor communication systems. Implementation continues until all are removed," he said.

Mukasa said UCC's operations have been on going in different parts of Kampala and Wakiso districts adding that Luweero has also been covered where over 10 installations were confiscated.

"The law that we follow was enacted by Parliament in 2013 and we are carrying out our mandate," Mukasa said.

On criteria used, the UCC spokesperson Isaac Kalembe told New Vision that concerned citizens tip the officials and an advance team is sent to verify the information before the outdoor communication systems are confiscated.

"We have our people on the ground that inform us about the people. They give us information about them before we confiscate them," he said.

Since the ban in February, UCC has been enforcing it but in some parts of Kampala such as Nsambya and Mengo, the communication systems are still being used.