Ever since coronavirus broke out, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health have been urging the general public to desist from spreading wrong information about the pandemic, because it leads to more spreading of the disease putting more lives at risk.
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) also joined the fight against COVID-19 misinformation by issuing a public advisory notice on March 22, 2020, warning the public to desist from disseminating false and unverified information.
On Friday last week, a video of one Pastor Augustine Yiga (who was later arrested) made rounds on social media where he said that there is no COVID-19 in Uganda, and that government is lying. This was later broadcasted on BBS Terefayina and Spark TV, which has prompted UCC to call them out.
In her letter, UCC boss Irene Kaggwa pointed out that the concerned broadcasters had aired material that had the potential “to confuse, divert and mislead unsuspecting members of the public against complying with the guidelines issued by the relevant Government authorities on the Coronavirus.”
The stations are further accused of amplifying, dramatizing, glorifying and rebroadcasting the said content. Through its programme “Ebyokya ku Wiikendi” on March 28, 2020, BBS TV is accused of broadcasting misleading statements made by Pastor Augustine Yiga regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.
On the other hand, NTV is accused of providing a platform for one Simon Senyonga on its “MorningATNTV” programme on 26 March 2020 to make objectionable COVID-19 related statements. As for Spark TV, Pastor Augustine Yiga is again responsible for the statements that were made on its “Live Wire” programme on 27 March 2020.
UCC now demands these broadcasters provide sufficient written explanation for the highlighted breaches within five days.
Failure to explain themselves satisfactorily, the Commission could proceed to institute regulatory sanctions against them, including the possibility of suspending their licenses, and/or initiate prosecution under Section 171 of the Penal Code Act.