KAMPALA – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has issued a second and firm warning to all media broadcasters, social media influencers, and online content creators, prohibiting them from establishing independent vote tally centers or declaring election results.
The directive, which targets traditional media houses, online TVs, bloggers, and even TikTokers, reinforces that the sole authority to announce results and declare winners at any level rests with the Electoral Commission.
In a statement, UCC officials emphasized that no entity outside the Electoral Commission or its designated officers has the legal mandate to make such declarations. This includes proclaiming winners at polling stations, constituencies, municipalities, cities, districts, or regions.
The Executive Director of the UCC, Mr. Nyombi Thembo, stated that the commission will continue to remind media owners and broadcasters of these regulations to prevent them from crossing established “regulatory red lines.”
This latest warning serves as a pre-emptive measure to maintain order and prevent the spread of unofficial or conflicting results during the electoral process. The UCC’s position underscores the legal framework designed to centralize and authenticate the announcement of election outcomes in Uganda.
Failure to comply with this directive could lead to regulatory action against the licenses of media houses and other legal consequences for individuals and online platforms.
