SECTOR 2 2.10 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means to interfere with editorial content. Analysis: Because Uganda’s economy is small, the government is the biggest advertiser. Government advertising constitutes about 70 per cent of the market, with the Ministry of Health being crucial because it spends a lot on all sorts of public health campaigns. On a number of occasions this economic clout has been used to tame critical media. In the 1990s the government imposed an advertising ban on the privately owned Daily Monitor newspaper following news stories and opinion pieces that were viewed as critical of the state. In recent years, the pressure has not been applied officially but in a more subtle way. Companies doing business with the government do not want to be seen to be associated with newspapers regarded as “enemies” by placing adverts in them. After the re-opening of Radio Sapientia, one of four stations closed during the September 2009 riots, the management of the station was asked to sign a declaration that political (‘anti-government’) programming would not be put around Ministry of Gender adverts. 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: 2.2 (2007: 2.0) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010 41