Media in Uganda

Uganda has an established and multi-layered media sector. Radio is the most widely accessible medium: the 2024 National Population and Housing Census recorded radio access in 41% of households, compared with 23.1% for television and 4% for computers. Radio was the main information source for 38.3% of households. Access is shaped by the cost of devices and electricity, network coverage, data prices and digital skills. Mobile ownership among people aged 10 and above was 43.3% in the 2024 census, with higher ownership in urban areas than rural areas. Internet use was 8.9% overall, including 16.6% in urban areas and 4.3% in rural areas. Kampala recorded 40.3% internet use, while Karamoja recorded 3.2%. Internet use was 13.8% among people aged 18 to 30 and 2.1% among those aged 10 to 17. Social networking accounted for 67% of reported internet purposes, followed by academic use at 15.7% and business or office use at 12.5%. The Uganda Communications Commission, usually called UCC, regulates broadcasting, online data communications, radio spectrum, media content and consumer affairs. Its responsibilities include licensing and authorising communication services and handling consumer complaints. The UCC Consumer Affairs Help Desk can be reached at 0800 222 777. The Media Council of Uganda registers journalists, issues practising certificates, applies professional ethics, handles complaints and provides disciplinary or arbitration processes. The Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, or UBC, is the national public broadcaster. SIGNET operates as the common carrier for digital terrestrial television infrastructure. Print media includes newspapers and online newspapers. Uganda protects the right to publish newspapers, but access to official information is subject to the Access to Information Act and exceptions concerning security, secrecy and confidentiality. Editors must be registered where the applicable rules require it. Print publications must be retained for 10 years, while electronic broadcasts must be retained for 30 days under the stated media requirements. Journalists generally follow an enrolment, registration and practising-certificate process through the Media Council. A practising certificate is valid for one year and requires annual renewal. The Council's published local requirements include at least a certificate in journalism. Published fee figures include UGX 5,000 for an enrolment application, UGX 30,000 for an enrolment certificate, UGX 50,000 for a register entry, UGX 200,000 for a practising certificate and UGX 100,000 for annual renewal. Editor registration has been listed at UGX 210,000 as a one-time fee. Fees and administrative practice should be checked with the Council before an application because they can change. Foreign journalists and freelancers use an accreditation card process. Broadcasting includes FM radio, online radio, terrestrial television, satellite television, internet-protocol television and cable services. The UCC's 2024 guide referred to more than 300 FM stations. An FM service generally needs a broadcasting licence, radio-frequency spectrum authorisation and type-approved equipment. Applications use UCC eServices and commonly require incorporation documents, articles of association, a business plan, financial statements, tax clearance and technical information. Regulatory fees vary. The UCC guide states that one person may hold up to three FM frequencies, with possible exceptions for religious or government broadcasters. Community broadcasting is non-profit and community-owned or managed, with programming, financing and evaluation carried out for and by the relevant community. Free-to-air broadcasters must meet a local-content requirement of at least 70%. Local or regional news must generally appear at least twice in 24 hours or for a combined period of at least 1.5 hours per day. Local content is connected to Uganda, citizens or permanent residents, or majority local ownership. Content may use English, Kiswahili or local languages. UBC and SIGNET support national public broadcasting and digital terrestrial or direct-to-home infrastructure. A DAB+ digital-radio pilot has operated in the Greater Kampala area within an 80-kilometre radius, with capacity for up to eight streams. A 2025 consultation addressed a possible digital sound broadcasting structure, but a nationwide commercial rollout is not confirmed by the available research. Online media is functionally established but access remains fragmented. UCC-regulated categories include blogs, online newspapers, online television and radio, audio over internet protocol, internet-protocol television, video-on-demand and digital audio. Access normally requires a suitable device, data, network coverage and enough digital skill; some services also require a subscription or decoder. Radio and free-to-air television usually do not require a continuing service fee, but users still pay for equipment and electricity. Online and streaming services can add data, device and subscription costs, which vary by provider and region. Social media use is also subject to Uganda's communications and data rules. In September 2025, UCC figures listed approximately 10 million WhatsApp subscribers, 9.3 million TikTok subscribers, 6.3 million YouTube subscribers, 2.5 million Snapchat subscribers, 1.3 million Instagram subscribers and 0.7 million X subscribers. These figures describe subscriptions rather than a guaranteed number of unique people. Users, account administrators, group administrators and public discussions can fall under the UCC content standards, the Uganda Communications Act, the Computer Misuse Act and the Data Protection and Privacy Act. False or misleading information, inflammatory or obscene content, privacy violations and online harm can create compliance or sanctions risks. Group administrators are expected to moderate prohibited material. The Constitution protects freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of the press and other media. The Access to Information Act provides access to records held by public bodies, subject to legal exceptions. The Data Protection and Privacy Act regulates the collection, processing and disclosure of personal data. The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act protects text, audio, audiovisual works, performances, broadcasts and material made available online. Finding a file or video online does not by itself give permission to copy, upload, broadcast or commercially reuse it. Young people's access and safety require particular care. UCC and UCUSAF support digital-skilling activities for young people, women, persons with disabilities and people in the informal sector. Current safety initiatives address cyberbullying, grooming, scams, misuse of personal data and responsible digital behaviour. UCC content rules and directives also address vulgar or prohibited material and privacy. Television-access guidance supports people with disabilities through measures such as sign-language interpretation and subtitles. People can participate through community radio, local-content creation and formal complaint channels. Community radio provides a recognised way for local ownership, programming, management, financing and evaluation. UCC handles consumer complaints, while the Media Council handles complaints involving the public and media or the state and media. The Creative Development and Skills Programme supports Ugandan audiovisual producers working on films, documentaries, television dramas, animation and short films, with possible recoupment conditions. The Uganda Film Festival supports training, distribution, commercialisation and viewer participation. These pathways differ from simply posting material on a social platform because they involve distinct institutional, professional or community processes.