Sixth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

Uganda has moved from analogue to digital TV broadcasting. Radios used to be dominated by the state until the early 1990s when the first independent radio was licensed. Programming on radio includes music and talk shows, and comedy is also popular. Radio stations in Uganda integrate mobile technology in their programming to increase audience engagement. Internet penetration levels are still low compared to other African countries. The recent Indian Ocean fiber cable project brought a lot of optimism and led to an increased interest in the internet as a media platform, broadband, and GPRS subscription. As of 2014, the Uganda Communication commission put mobile internet subscriptions at 4,196,133 compared to 106,900 fixed internet subscription. Media mass communication includes broadcasting, publishing and internet. Media culture is associated with consumerism, henceforth “consumer culture”. Uganda has a vibrant industry but with its unstable political history, media never had a chance to thrive under political upheaval between 1966 to1986. There was censorship of media during the regime of president Idd Amin Daada. Media was used to promote leaders before their subjects. Media rights are still being pressed for by a few activists. Ownership of media has transitioned from government to private ownership. Despite the increased media freedom over the last decade, there are still calls for more actions from government by journalists for freedom. In recent cases CBS radio, Daily Monitor and Red Pepper were shut down by the government. There are many examples of challenges from ongoing government pressure on media to consider.