UCC asked to regulate use of smartphones

By John Agaba

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has been asked to regulate the use of smartphones in the country.

The outcry follows a new trend in behaviour that has degenerated social ties and relationships “because everyone is seemingly busy on their smartphone.”

Pastor Martin Ssempa, the founder of the Makerere Community Church, said the era of smartphones, which brings with it the “corrupt” influence of the western culture, is killing that which was good in Africa — morals.

“Everywhere you go, it is smartphones. At home, the parents don’t have quality time with their children. The children are on WhatsApp. The parents are on Linkedin. You find two people are on a date, and the woman is on Facebook, and the man is on Twitter. UCC needs to come and regulate the use of these smartphones,” Ssempa said at the Family Life Network function in Kampala.

Early last month, the Government proposed to start regulating the social media platform, Facebook.

But, Ssempa said the intervention should go beyond Facebook.

“There is a lot of damage these smartphones are causing to our homes. There is a lot of pornography, and all you can think of. You find a son is at home, in the living room, but he is wired — he is wearing Beats by Dre (headsets). There is no communication at home at all. And this is not an African ‘thing’. There is no reason a child below 18 years should be given a smartphone,” Ssempa said.

“UCC needs to regulate the use of these phones, and who should hold a smartphone. Parents need to be taught on how to use these phones,” he said.

The vocal Pastor also slammed the gender movement, feminism, saying “we are getting the whole concept wrong.”

“It is wrong for women to say that ‘everything a man can do, I also can do’.  Yes, there are some positive attributes a woman can copy, but not all. If a man spends the whole nigh drinking, because you are emancipated, do you also have to spend the night in the bar?” he asked. 

“Today, after work, a man passes by the Pork Joint; the woman also wants to go to Mateos, to hang out with the ‘girls’, that ‘we have a girls’ night’. In Africa, if a man became irresponsible, the children found solace with their mother,” Ssempa said.

Stephen Langa, the executive director of the Family Life Network, asked parents to be responsible and to promote a responsible parenthood.

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