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Outdoor community radios thrive despite ban by UCC
Outlawed. An outdoor megaphone community radio in Lukaya Town, Kalungu District. PHOTO BY MUZAFARU NSUBUGA
What you need to know:
Revealed. A snap survey carried out by Daily Monitor in various villages and towns in central region last week reveals that the bizindalo radios are operating freely and many more have mushroomed.
Operators of outdoor megaphone community radios commonly known as bizindalo have continued to operate in various villages and peri-urban areas despite a ban by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Daily Monitor has established.
In February 2017, UCC which regulates the broadcasting industry, banned the community radios for allegedly operating in contravention of the law and causing noise pollution.
The programming of bizindalo radios consist mostly of local announcements on lost or found property, lost children, market information, adverts, talk shows, religious sermons, community mobilisation, local employment opportunities, education and health information.
In the first few weeks after issuing the ban, UCC officials backed by the police, raided some areas in Luweero, Wakiso, Kampala Mukono and Masaka and confiscated a number of megaphone speakers. However, the crackdown was not sustained, giving room to new operators to emerge.
A snap survey carried out by Daily Monitor in various villages and towns in central region last week reveals that the bizindalo radios are operating freely and many more have mushroomed.
In Lukaya Town Council, Kalungu District, for example, there are four bizindalo radios; one owned by Mr Ben Kansadde Makaabugo known as Ddoboozi Kya Kisa kya Maria and the other is Miranga Media Centre owned by Mr Wasswa Male Miranga.
The other two bizindalo radios known as Eddoboozi lya Lukaya are owned by Mr Muwada Ssemambo.
Public demand
Mr Ssemambo says though UCC banned their operations, they were forced to continue operating due to ‘public demand’.
“We help air announcements for locals in the area because we are fast and charge little money compared to FM radio stations,” he says
He insists that their ‘radios’ operate legally because operators pay taxes and licences to local councils.
Likewise, Mr Miranga claims UCC gave them a green light to continue working until a time when they will completely ban their operations, an assertion this newspaper could not independently verify.
“These community radios are not operating in only central region here; they are all over the country and UCC knows them. They [UCC] promised to issue final directives banning our operations and we are still waiting for that,” he says
Mr Gerald Ssenyondo, the Lukaya Town Council chairperson, says bizindalo radios lack clear guidelines under which to operate and some of the broadcasters use vulgar language.
“By the way, we are planning a meeting with the owners of those community radios. If they [owners] cannot equip their presenters with some basic skills of communication, we shall shut them down,” he says
Kalungu District Police Commander Abraham Tukundane says police are aware that bizindalo radios are operating illegally and cause noise pollution but they can only intervene when the community complains.
In Lukaya, owners of bizindalo radios charge between Shs1,000 and Shs3,000 per announcement.
In Entebbe Municipality, authorities say they are going to launch a crackdown on bizindalo operators because they have already realised the problems they cause in the community.
“Those bizindalo radios are good for those who use them but the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. We are going to act and UCC will find us there,” the deputy Mayor, Mr Richard Ssekyondo, says.
Mr Siraje Mubiru, who owns an outdoor megaphone community radio in Nakiwogo Village, Entebbe Town, says they are doing self-regulation and only switch on the speakers at specific intervals.
Defence
“It is true the speakers used to make noise to the community but these days we use them only when we are going to make announcements,” he says.
Ms Sarah Nakirigya, a resident of Entebbe Town, says banning bizindalo will not help but UCC should instead come up with a licensing regime as well as policies and regulations for their operations.
“For us in communities, we know how useful they are [bizindalo]; they are really filling a gap left by licensed radio stations. They just need to get organised and ensure that they operate in regulated manner,” he says
Mr Robert Asendu, the Lyantonde District criminal investigations officer, says police can only act when UCC tells them to do so.
“Our mandate is to give UCC manpower when they are conducting their operations,” he says.
He adds that as police, they also use the bizindalo radios in mobilising communities to fight crime.
Mr Wilson Wamala, the chairperson of Lyantonde business community, says outdoor community radios help their businesses to make profits through advertisements, which are cheap compared to those of radio stations.
Mr Radi Kamarumba, a former councillor representing Koki C Ward at Lyantonde Town Council, notes that the community radios were initially good in mobilising residents to keep the town clean, but today, the operators simply focus on making money.
“Our town is now dirty and garbage is everywhere because they no longer sensitise people on cleanliness. By the way, we lose nothing if they close them,” Mr Kamarumba says.
Mr Stephen Kawuki, who owns one in Kyotera District, explains that they lack a radio station in both Kyotera and Rakai districts and it is through bizindalo that they communicate to each other.
“UCC should first permit us to have a radio station, and then think of banning our community radios. Before we came up with these bizindalo, people were travelling to Masaka or Lyantonde, where there are radio stations, to have death announcements aired ,” he says.
Mr Ibrahim Bbosa, the UCC spokesperson, insists the ban on bizindalo still stands and owners are operating illegally.
“We tried to confiscate their equipment, but the broad casters could reinstate them immediately. So, we decided to take prosecution approach and whoever is caught operating an outdoor megaphone community radio is taken to the court of law and convicted,” he says.
“As we try to prosecute the culprits, some local politicians are also frustrating our efforts because some of the bizindalo radios belong to them,” Mr Bbosa adds.
Mr Jimmy Okee, the chairperson of Bukaya West village in Buikwe District, says a kizindalo radio that was in his area was switched off two years ago, something that has affected community mobilisation.
What Law says
Ban. Section 26(1) of the UCC Act 2013 states that a person shall not install or operate a television station, radio station, or any related broadcasting apparatus without a license issued by the Commission”. The National Environment (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations, 2003 empower local councils to make laws regulating noise and vibration pollution in accordance with the Local Governments Act.
Mukono Municipality Mayor George Fred Kagimu, however, says there is no community radio currently operating in the area.
Compiled by Muzafaru Nsubuga, Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa, Ambrose Musasizi, Paul Ssekandi, Eve Muganga Denis Edema & Jessica Sabano
