The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the regulatory authority for telecommunications, broadcasting, and infrastructure services, has announced a crackdown on international artists involved in promoting vulgar content.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kampala on Tuesday, UCC Executive Director Mr. Nyombi Thembo expressed concern about explicit content at recent events, particularly its impact on Ugandan audiences and children.
“I was shocked to learn that an event over the weekend featured explicit content after discussing it with a friend. The show was ‘sodomatic’ and Gomorrah-like, highlighting the need for stricter regulation of entertainment,” Mr. Thembo said.
The commission plans to collaborate with intelligence teams to extradite vulgar artists, deport them, and hold event promoters accountable for breaching content regulations.
Additionally, UCC reaffirmed its stance against explicit local content, maintaining its ban on certain songs by Ugandan musicians Yasin Mukasa (Lil Pazo) and Gereson Wabuyi (Gravity Omutujju). Songs such as Enkudi, Dooze, and Okwepiicha have been flagged for violating these guidelines.
The move has sparked heated debate over freedom of expression, with critics arguing that the crackdown might stifle creativity. However, UCC insists that promoting vulgar material undermines Ugandan laws and the nation’s cultural integrity.
While the new measures aim to safeguard the public, especially children, they also pose challenges for the entertainment industry, which must now navigate stricter content regulations.
