SECTOR 2 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically sustainable and independent media outlets. There has been no deliberate effort by government to promote media diversity. Rather, the tendency in Uganda is to favour monopolies. For example, many broadcasters transmit from masts owned by the UBC, and have little protection from undue interference from a rival broadcaster. “Some stations were switched off because they hadn’t paid for rental”, said a panellist. “But broadcasting infrastructure shouldn’t be in the hands of a rival broadcaster in the first place.” The objective of the Uganda Communications Regulatory Authority Bill is to “develop a modern communications sector and infrastructure” (Article 3). However, the Bill puts more emphasis on modernization and competition than it does on promoting diversity and free expression12. Clause 4 of the Bill lists the functions of the Authority, and these include allocating, licensing and managing the use of the radio frequency spectrum “in a manner that ensures widest variety of programming and optimal utilization of resources” (subsection c); ensuring “equitable distribution of services throughout the country” (subsection m); promoting competition (subsection o); and ensuring that the standards it sets comply with international communication agreements and treaties to which Uganda is a party (subsection i). Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.7 (2010: 1.8; 2007: n/a) 12 For Article 19’s analysis of the Uganda Communications Regulatory Authority Bill, go to: resources.php/resource/3048/en/uganda:-communications-regulatory-authority-bill 36 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2012 www.article19.org/