KAMPALA – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has ordered users of online media platforms, including social media account users, administrators of social media groups and hosts of regular public discussions on social media to moderate group members’ behaviour.
The directive issued by UCC executive director Nyombi Thembo on January 7, 2025, comes days before the country holds the General Election this Thursday (January 15, 2026).
According to the statement, the online media platforms are also expected to maintain the standards and directives Nyombi has issued to other media broadcaster, including Radio and TV.
“Publishing, posting and forwarding any inflammatory, inaccurate, misleading, false or fake information is criminal under the Computer Misuse Act, Cap 97; Social media account managers should moderate the behaviour of their group members to ensure that prohibited content is not disseminated on the group,” Nyombi says.
He adds that failure to comply with the directives shall constitute a breach of the law and broadcasting standards and may attract administrative and legal sanctions, including warnings, fines, suspension of broadcasts, or prosecution and other appropriate measures in accordance with the UCC Act and related laws.”
Nyombi directed all broadcasters to disseminate this “guidance to their editorial programming, and on-air staff and ensure strict compliance throughout the electoral period.”
He also said all broadcasters and online media platforms are encouraged, “to seek prior authorisation and accreditation from the Electoral Commission (EC) to facilitate seamless coverage and access to real-time updates and information from EC.”
The media regulator also, in the statement, says it has banned any declaration, projection, publication, or circulation of election results from polling stations or other unauthorised sources, whether on radio, TV, online platforms, or social media.
Thembo says it is only the Electoral Commission (EC) that is the only legally mandated authority to tally, declare and officially announce election results.
Nyombi Thembo
Nyombi said Sections 32 and Schedule 4 of the UCC ACT Cap 103 and the UCC Regulations 2019 prohibit broadcasters and users of communication platforms from broadcasting content that is not in compliance with the law.
He said in accordance with its mandate under sections 5(1), 32, 45 and 49 of the Uganda Communications Act Cap 103 and Regulations of the Uganda Communications (Content) Regulations 2019, and to protect the public against the risk associated with premature or unauthorised declaration of results, hereby directs all broadcasters including televisions, radios and online communication platforms as to desist from publishing unofficial results.
“All broadcasters are strictly prohibited from declaring, announcing, publishing or projecting election results from polling stations or any other source other than the EC,” Nyombi says.
“Where the broadcaster decides to broadcast election results that have been officially declared and published by the EC; The broadcaster must ensure that the results are accurately presented to the public as they appear on the official declaration form issued by the EC; The broadcaster must ensure that the results are accurately presented to the public as they appear on the official declaration form issued by the EC; the broadcaster must keep a copy of the declaration form for each election result reported to the public or an audio-visual recording of the returning officer declaring the results.”
Nyombi said the commission reserves the right to require the broadcaster to furnish it with a copy of all election results that were broadcast on its media platform.
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Nyombi warned broadcasters against releasing speculative or projected results and urged all broadcasters to refrain from broadcasting or announcing on their media platform(s) any projected unofficial results; broadcasting tallies attributed to political parties, agents of political actors,civil society organisations or individuals; broadcasting results based on reports by random callers or unofficial reporters.
The country heads to polls on Thursday, with the Electoral Commission saying they have registered a total of 21,681,491 voters.
Ugandans will be required to elect a president, Members of Parliament and local government leaders. Eight candidates have expressed interest in the presidential seat.