African Centre for Media Excellence - June 2011 THE VIEWS EXPRESSED MUST REPRESENT THOSE OF MANAGEMENT Radio Ownership and its Impact on Political Speech in Uganda 1 African Centre for Media Excellence - June 2011 Published by: (C) African Centre for Media Excellence For more information contact: African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) Plot 124 Nanjala Road, Soya-Bunga P. O. Box 11283 Kampala Tel: +256 392 731 067 Fax: +256 392 254 167 Email:
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[email protected] 2 African Centre for Media Excellence - June 2011 Acknowledgement This study was conducted and authored by George W. Lugalambi (Ph.D), Bernard Tabaire, and Peter Nyanzi. The project was supervised by Peter G. Mwesige (Ph.D). We would like to thank Freedom House for supporting the study and the printing of this report. We would also like to thank the Uganda Communications Commission and FM radio station owners who agreed to be interviewed for their co-operation and support. 3 African Centre for Media Excellence - June 2011 Contents Introduction Objectives of the study The approach Access to radio during political campaigns The space for critical political discourse The role of regulation Conclusion: Implications for media freedom and political speech References About ACME 4 African Centre for Media Excellence - June 2011 Introduction The question of who owns the media has in recent years become a growing subject of debate and contention in Uganda. The need to address this question gained greater urgency during the 2011 elections as it emerged that access to radio, in particular, appeared to be influenced by political considerations rather more explicitly than at other times and in previous elections.