Man remanded to Luzira for defying UCC directive on public radio speakers

By Sania Babirye

A man who defied  a directive from the Uganda Communication Commission against  operating a public radio speaker commonly  known as Kizindaalo has finally  pleaded guilty to the charge.

Gerald Ssemwanga who has been on remand in Luzira prison since  last week accepted the offense before  Buganda Road court  Chief Magistrate James Eremye Mawanda .

He was charged with  installing and operating a public raido apparatus without a license contrary to section 27 of the UCC Act but first denied the charge.

The magistrate has now set the 6th of June  to hand him his sentence and remanded him to Luzira prison   until then.

A content Regulation manager with UCC  Paul Mukasa testified against Ssemwanga on Monday  this week that they arrested Ssemwanga on the 27th of March 2017 from Kabawo zone in Rubaga division in Kampala district  illegally broadcasting before confiscating his equipments.

On the 8th of February 2017 UCC issued a  directive ordering all people operating the commonly Bizindalo without a license to dismantle  and take them down because they were operating illegally .