George William Nyombi Thembo on Ensuring Responsible Communication in a Digital Age
World Business Journal talks to George William Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director at the Uganda Communication Commission, about the expanding communication landscape, the barriers within the sector, and the need to balance freedom of expression with content regulation on social media.
What are the latest trends and shifts shaping the communication landscape in Uganda?
Mobile subscriptions have risen to 41M, and mobile internet subscriptions have reached 19.5M. Mobile money registrations increased to 32M, while smartphone ownership grew to 18M. Feature phones were estimated at 26M and basic phones at 2.4M. The number of telecommunication towers climbed to 5,204, and licensed radio stations rose to 283. These trends indicate a robust expansion of mobile technology and media in the country.
How does UCC balance freedom of expression with content regulation on social media?
We acknowledge the importance of freedom of expression as enshrined in our constitution. Thus, UCC appreciates the role of social media platforms in promoting an informed citizenry and democratising information production and dissemination. However, while the constitution and other laws grant media rights and freedoms, these are not absolute. They must be exercised with responsibility, as others can get injured in the process. Therefore, in the exercise of their freedom to produce and share content, social media users must act within the boundaries of the laws and regulations pertaining to information dissemination.
How do you plan to support and foster innovation within the communication sector while balancing regulatory oversight and industry growth?
We are not only a regulator of the communications sector but also an enabler of communication services.
Therefore, regulatory activities such as licensing, spectrum allocation, and enforcement of laws, regulations, policies, guidelines and standards go hand in hand with interventions that seek to uplift the ICT sector through innovation and growth. In other words, innovation doesn’t have to come at the expense of standards and other UCC functions such as consumer protection.
