Makeshift broadcast centres to be stopped
Nov 20, 2002
The Broadcasting Council, quoting the Electronic Media Statute of 1996, has announced a crackdown on illegal radio broadcasting
By Chibita wa Duallo
The Broadcasting Council, quoting the Electronic Media Statute of 1996, has announced a crackdown on illegal radio broadcasting. They have singled out a few examples, such as Radio Sebina in Kalerwe and Radio Musomba in Gayaza.
These are basically makeshift radio stations which use megaphones or loudspeakers hoisted onto trees, poles or other high places. They then begin announcing to all and sundry within their hearing range. Most of them come on at 6:00am and go on late into the night.
There have been two common reactions to the these broadcasts. Many people have applauded them as a major scientific breakthrough which needs to be encouraged and harnessed. The broadcasts also serve a social function.
They make death announcements, lost and found cattle, goats, luggage etc. As such, they serve a very useful social function. They also provide something to do for one or two local youths who run the programming.
On the other side of the coin are residents who complain of the noise generated by the loudspeakers. It wakes them up early in the morning, stops them from sleeping in the evening and yet they can do nothing about it. They can neither turn down the volume, change stations or shut it off as they would do with their radio sets.
This criticism is the major disadvantage of these broadcasts. A person who is not interested in listening or who is even offended by what is being broadcast has no option but to continue listening unless he leaves his house and goes to a quieter place, which is an extreme and even punitive option.
The move by the Broadcasting Council is therefore being followed with keen interest. If these local broadcasts are shut down, some will welcome it as good riddance. Others, however, will view it as regulation gone amok and killing community innovation.
As long as these broadcasts do not interfere with people’s sleep and general quiet, maybe they should be allowed to operate. They could be given guidelines. For example, they can operate between 8:00am and 8:00pm when most people are awake. They could also be prohibited from offering direct competition to the mainstream FM Stations in content of programming. Otherwise, the registered FM stations may not see any reason to pay for licenses if their competitors can operate without any kind of regulation.
It remains to be seen what steps the Broadcasting Council will take and how it will enforce them.
Hajati Aisha Lubega
The Constitution provides that the President will make certain appointments with the approval of parliament.
The terms of reference for Parliament’s approval seem not to be well defined. Also, it is not clear what happens if the President insists on his appointment and Parliament insists on not approving it.
Would it be right for the judiciary to break the deadlock or does it have to be consensus?
Hajati Aisha Lubega may have become a victim of this lacuna.
The Broadcasting Council, quoting the Electronic Media Statute of 1996, has announced a crackdown on illegal radio broadcasting. They have singled out a few examples, such as Radio Sebina in Kalerwe and Radio Musomba in Gayaza.
These are basically makeshift radio stations which use megaphones or loudspeakers hoisted onto trees, poles or other high places. They then begin announcing to all and sundry within their hearing range. Most of them come on at 6:00am and go on late into the night.
There have been two common reactions to the these broadcasts. Many people have applauded them as a major scientific breakthrough which needs to be encouraged and harnessed. The broadcasts also serve a social function.
They make death announcements, lost and found cattle, goats, luggage etc. As such, they serve a very useful social function. They also provide something to do for one or two local youths who run the programming.
On the other side of the coin are residents who complain of the noise generated by the loudspeakers. It wakes them up early in the morning, stops them from sleeping in the evening and yet they can do nothing about it. They can neither turn down the volume, change stations or shut it off as they would do with their radio sets.
This criticism is the major disadvantage of these broadcasts. A person who is not interested in listening or who is even offended by what is being broadcast has no option but to continue listening unless he leaves his house and goes to a quieter place, which is an extreme and even punitive option.
The move by the Broadcasting Council is therefore being followed with keen interest. If these local broadcasts are shut down, some will welcome it as good riddance. Others, however, will view it as regulation gone amok and killing community innovation.
As long as these broadcasts do not interfere with people’s sleep and general quiet, maybe they should be allowed to operate. They could be given guidelines. For example, they can operate between 8:00am and 8:00pm when most people are awake. They could also be prohibited from offering direct competition to the mainstream FM Stations in content of programming. Otherwise, the registered FM stations may not see any reason to pay for licenses if their competitors can operate without any kind of regulation.
It remains to be seen what steps the Broadcasting Council will take and how it will enforce them.
Hajati Aisha Lubega
The Constitution provides that the President will make certain appointments with the approval of parliament.
The terms of reference for Parliament’s approval seem not to be well defined. Also, it is not clear what happens if the President insists on his appointment and Parliament insists on not approving it.
Would it be right for the judiciary to break the deadlock or does it have to be consensus?
Hajati Aisha Lubega may have become a victim of this lacuna.