UCC silences Salt TV’s Omusunsuzi
Kampala, Uganda – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has suspended Salt TV’s morning programme Omusunsuzi after determining that it breached minimum broadcasting standards.
In a statement released on Saturday, the regulator said the show, which airs weekdays from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM, contained abusive content, inappropriate language, and unprofessional conduct by presenters. The Commission expressed concern that the programme was exposing children to unsuitable material, since it runs during morning hours when many are likely to be watching.
Salt TV has been ordered to immediately halt the show and submit written responses to complaints, together with recordings and scripts of episodes broadcast between August 1 and September 12. The broadcaster has until Friday, September 19, 2025, to confirm compliance.
A pattern of media sanctions
This is not the first time UCC has moved against broadcasters in Uganda. Over the past decade, the regulator has suspended or cautioned several television and radio stations over alleged violations of broadcasting standards. Critics, however, argue that such actions often come across as politically motivated, especially during sensitive periods such as elections.
In 2019, UCC ordered 13 radio and television stations, including NBS TV and Capital FM, to suspend staff over their coverage of opposition activities. More recently, in 2021, the regulator directed the temporary suspension of some online shows accused of spreading “sectarian and inflammatory content.”
While the UCC insists its interventions are aimed at safeguarding public interest and protecting vulnerable audiences such as children, civil society and media rights groups have repeatedly questioned the consistency and transparency of its enforcement.
The suspension of Omusunsuzi comes at a time when competition among morning talk shows is high, with stations using provocative content to drive viewership. The outcome of Salt TV’s compliance report to UCC by the September 19 deadline will determine whether the programme returns to air or faces longer-term sanctions.
