Some 10-15% (i.e. Shs1 billion = US$500,000) of UBC funding is in the form of
government grants disbursed in quarterly cycles. The rest of the funding is from
commercial sources. UBC has consequently gone commercial to attract audiences
and sell more advertising. It is thus vulnerable to requests made and influences
brought to bear by advertisers.
Government grants and commercial income are insufficient to cover the
broadcaster’s needs. One indication of this is the fact that the director of news
(head of news department) at UBC has Shs300,000 per month as “petty cash” at
his disposal for miscellaneous expenses, which translates to as little as Shs10,000
(US$ 5) per day.

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: 			

1.3

(2007: n/a)

3.8
The state/public broadcaster is technically
accessible in the entire country.
Analysis:

UBC TV’s transmission signal covers about 60 per cent of the country but is not
reliable in all places. Even in urban centres it is sometimes difficult to receive the
signal or to get a clear picture. In some areas UBC TV can only be viewed through
the subscription pay-TV service, DStv. Radio covers 80 per cent of the country,
mainly in the central and eastern parts.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010

51

Select target paragraph3