The gravity of the situation became evident when toddlers began innocently singing along to lyrics that no child should ever utter. Schools, alarmingly, joined the bandwagon, with teachers training learners to perform these degrading songs. Public concerts showcased students mimicking such acts, much to the chagrin of parents who valued their children’s moral upbringing.

However, the tide turned when leaders and institutions, last week, finally took decisive action. Buganda Premier Charles Peter Mayiga, known as Katikkiro, stepped in to lead the charge, albeit belatedly. He banned all vulgar content from media outlets affiliated with the Buganda Kingdom.

This marked the beginning of a nationwide clampdown. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), awakening from its slumber, enforced the ban on vulgar content across all platforms. Police soon followed, issuing stern warnings to offenders and pledging to prosecute those found culpable.

Naming and Shaming Uganda’s Most Notorious Artists

 At the heart of the controversy were two artists: Yassin Mukasa, popularly known as Lil Pazzo, and Gerson Wabuyu, alias Gravity Omutujju. The Uganda National Cultural Center (UNCC) declared them the nation’s most notorious purveyors of obscene music. Their infamous tracks, including Enkudi by Lil Pazzo and Doze, Enyama, and Omun… by Gravity Omutujju, were deemed detrimental to society’s moral standing.

Phina Mugerwa, also known as Masanyalaze, a singer-turned-cultural advocate and the vice chairperson of the UNCC, called an emergency meeting to address the crisis. The meeting, attended by representatives from key organizations like the police, UCC, and the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity, culminated in a public statement banning these artists’ music from all media and public platforms.

Ironically, Masanyalaze herself had once been infamous for suggestive dance performances that shocked many. Whether she has outgrown such antics remains uncertain, but her decisive action against vulgarity has been widely applauded.

Gravity and Lil Pazzo Refuse to Back Down

 Despite the public backlash, both Gravity Omutujju and Lil Pazzo refused to attend the crisis meeting. Pazzo, in particular, lashed out at cultural moralists like Katikkiro Mayiga, questioning how they expected artists to survive without their controversial music. He argued that the public demand for such content was the root cause of its prevalence – a  grim reflection of the country’s cultural appetite.

This argument resonated with a statement by Counsel Freddie Mukasa Mbidde, a former representative to the East African Legislative Assembly, who likened Ugandans to pigs that make mistakes and quickly forget them. Lil Pazzo’s claim that vulgar music had made him wealthy, further underscored the complex relationship between demand and supply in Uganda’s entertainment industry.

The Role of Institutions in Restoring Order

 In addition to targeting male artists, the crisis meeting issued a severe reprimand to female performers notorious for their nude appearances. These, including Gloria Buggie, Shakira-Shakira, and Rita Dancehall. These singers were barred from performing in scanty attire, with police under strict orders to arrest and prosecute violators.

Medical professionals also entered the fray, demanding an apology from Gravity Omutujju for his Doze music video. This one in particular portrayed inappropriate behavior involving a fake doctor and female patients. Whether Gravity issued the apology or faced legal action remains unclear.

Will Sanity Prevail?

 While the swift actions of leaders and institutions have restored a semblance of sanity, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of these efforts. Uganda’s battle against obscenity is far from over, and success will require the active participation of all citizens. Artists, educators, parents, and policymakers must work together to safeguard the nation’s cultural integrity.

For now, the focus is on enforcement and accountability. Whether Uganda will maintain this newfound moral compass or relapse into cultural decay, depends on collective vigilance. Only time will tell if this moment of reckoning will inspire lasting change.

The new regulatory sanctions imposed on all Gossip shows on television stations in Uganda by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), are set to render hundreds of Ugandan youths jobless.

A sample survey done by this newspaper, indicates that there are already severe implications in the pipeline as the directive that took effect on 20^th October 2021, bites.

It has been discovered, that the Gossip programs, have been providing employment to a legion of people, who include presenters, editors, cameramen, on-spot field reporters and drivers, whose livelihoods will be affected by the move.

Those privy to the marketing departments of most Television stations, indicate that the entertainment shows, have been attracting huge advertising accounts which was bringing in almost 65{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of revenue to keep them afloat. And the same advertisers only could part with their money at the ‘peak’ time of between 4-9pm which has been frozen.

Why UCC moved to Protect Young Viewers

According to our sources privy with information at UCC, they have in the recent past, been receiving several complaints from concerned people over abuse of the minimum broadcasting standards of some stations.

UCC in its mandate engaged the stations through different mechanisms which included warnings among others, to little or no avail, thus the decision to enforce a rescheduling order of the programs. 

Some of the affected programs include NBS TV’s Uncut Sabula and Uncut Kalakata, Spark TV’s Live Wire, Urban TV’s Short Circuit Sonsomola, ABS TV’s Evening Zone, Baba TV’s Poko Poko, and BBS TV’s Roundabout. Others are Dream TV’s Tik Taka Sesetura, Kingdom TV’s Kapyaki, STV’s Select E-Buzz, BTM TV’s Access, and Top TV’s Kachumbali.

Below is the UCC Directive    

“UCC has ordered all gossip shows on Tv to be airing between 10pm and 5am. A directive which has been sent to TVs notes that any Tv that fails to adhere to the directive, the Commission shall proceed to institute other regulatory sanctions” UCC announced.

The shows were ordered to air at that time because they contain adult content, sexual innuendos, and profanity. All of which have the potential to disturb and harm some members of the public, particularly children.

It was stated that some of the gossip show hosts appear on television while dressed indecently, in skimpy outfits. And that the language used by presenters during the shows is frequently demeaning and contains unsubstantiated claims against various individuals.

However, after careful examination of the shows, it has been decided that they should never be broadcast on television between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. This is because “they contain adult content, sexual innuendos & profanity, with potential to disturb and harm some members of the public especially the children. 

It further adds that “presenters of the program often appear on air when dressed indecently in skimpy outfits; the language & statements used by presenters & guests during the program are often abusive, demeaning, and derogatory & contain unsubstantiated claims against different persons.”

 Media Owners in Effort to Engage UCC

As the new directive bites with most of the stations staring into the unknown, we are told that there have already been a series of crisis meetings by the Media Owners Association in which they have resolved to seek audience with the UCC in a bid to earnestly request them to revisit the current position.  

Spark Tv’s Live Wire Suspended 

However, as the rest sought to amicably engage UCC, the Nation Media’s Spark Tv who believed that they had not broken any of the set guidelines, went ahead with business as usual which has led to the suspension of their Gossip Show ‘Live Wire’ 

Below is the Suspension notice; 

The Uganda Communications Commission has ordered Spark TV @sparktvuganda to immediately suspend its Live Wire program after the station appeared to ignore the regulator’s directive to have it rescheduled, insisting that it was not culpable for any breach.

Whereas many thought that the directive would only affect Gossip shows, we have since learned that Televisions Stations that are running live music shows that continue to pass off as ‘ Dance Shows’ prominent on Fridays and Saturdays, have also been put on notice to comply with the minimum broad casting standards set by UCC or face its wrath.

Artistes Cry Foul over Rescheduling; 

Though some artistes have accused some of these programs presenters for bei ng biased and witch hunting them like Emmanuel Sunna aka OS Sunna, who recently caused the incarceration of three media personalities affiliated to NBS Tv over offensive communication, many have expressed dismay at the new directive.

‘ Entertainment shows have been our only channel and voice during the Covid 19 suspension of all entertainment activities, with the curfew still in force, it means that many of us will not be able to appear on the shows at the new stipulated time’ said Lil Pazo.

The event and artistes manager Edward Ssendikadiwa expressed his fear of the new directive further hurting the already ailing sector into total abyss and oblivion, unless UCC rethinks its decision. 

Running under the theme; Redirecting Social Media to Impactful Social Networking Engagements, the festival will bring real social media experience in a venue with free Wi-Fi where all social media engagements will be live on giant screens. The event will see social media revelers treated to a mix of informative, edutainment and fun activities.

The main sponsors of the event are Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the Ruparelia Group of Companies. Other key partners include National Information Technology Authority-Uganda-NITA-U (internet partner), Next Communication, NBS TV and Nxt Radio (Media Partners) as well as Uganda Breweries Ltd who will ensure revelers get drinks at attractive prices.

Amon Baita, the Marketing Head of  Social Media Fest said, it is not only  aimed at streamlining  the social media industry towards effective and professional communication amongst users, but it will also boost awareness and promotion of digital marketing and e-commerce amongst Ugandans, plus amplifying an impactful usage of social media through interaction with end-users.

“The Social Media Festival will bring together individuals, social media groups, influencers, bloggers, digital marketing agencies, government agencies, exhibitors and various brands and organizations under one roof to network and learn more how best to benefit from social media platforms,” Baita says.

He adds that Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Ecobank, Davis & Shirtliff among others have already booked space to exhibit and showcase their various digital innovations and products.

He urges other companies with digital products/services and those using social media platforms to better their service delivery, to book space not only for exhibition purposes but also to network and get feedback from end users of their products physically.

Baita says the event will have interactive sessions where various topics relating to ICT and internet, PR Management and marketing and branding on social media among others, will be discussed.

“Social Media FestUg’s vision is to be the biggest marketing social event in the region bringing all brands in direct contact with their audience,” he adds. Baita says entrance into the one-day event is free but one must register in advance via a link. He provided the link as https://bit.ly/2ucCBUM.

For companies that want to exhibit or any inquiries, contact Amon Baita via: 0774037962