SECTOR 2

2.5
Adequate competition legislation/regulation
seeks to prevent media concentration and monopolies
Analysis:

The New Vision has acquired and set up new FM radio stations, and has now
rebranded itself as The Vision Group. It bought Radio West, the largest station in
western Uganda based in Mbarara. It set up Vision FM and Bukedde FM based in
Kampala; Radio Etop based in Soroti, eastern Uganda; and Radio Rupiny based in
Gulu, northern Uganda. In addition, it started Bukedde TV, completing its multimedia “empire”.
This was possible because there is no anti-monopoly legislation in the country.
The proposed Broadcasting Policy, whose status (as pointed out under 1.12) is still
unclear, seeks to limit concentration in ownership, and encourage diversity and
competition in media.

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: 			

1.2

(2007: 1.3)

2.6
Government promotes a diverse media
landscape with economically sustainable and
independent media outlets.
Analysis:

Media legislation in its entirety suggests that the government is not seeking to
promote a favourable environment for a diverse media landscape.
In practice, the government is building up a media conglomerate which it controls.
In addition to the state-owned Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, it now –

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010

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