The Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) has finally bowed down to public requests and criticism and switched on most of the radio stations it had switched off on January 8^th this year over non payment of transmission bills amounting to three billion Uganda shillings.

The radios UBC switched off included BBC radio, Radio France International, Suubi FM, Buddu Radio, Voice of Africa, Greater Africa Radio, Bilal FM, and Italian Embassy Security Communication system.

Other communication houses UBC switched off also included Itel, Tangerine, Citizen TV, and infocom. Sources in UBC have told our reporters that most of the affected stations like TOP radio, radio Buddu among others were allowed to operate because they paid their electricity bills and others have entered into agreements with UBC.

Acting managing director of UBC, Paul Kihika says that UBC doesn’t have any problem with radio stations that meet all necessary requirements.

The post UBC finally switches on affected radio stations first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The world’s switch off deadline will be in 2015 with countries having to transfer from analog broadcasting to digital technology though East African member states agreed to December 31st 2012.

The state minister for information and communication technology Nyombi Tembo says the proposal is aimed at making the top set boxes affordable for every citizen.

He was speaking today at the common market for Eastern and southern African meeting on digital migration in Kampala.

Tembo says the proposal is still being debated by all stakeholders although he expressed hope that it will go through so that the top set boxes can cost at most 50,000 shillings. These will be needed for anyone to capture TV signals and have more channels.

Ultimate Media

The post Government to subsidise top set boxes for digital TV migration first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Talking before the parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the alleged saga in the energy sector, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Managing Director Joseph Katera said that these four government organs owe the government over 30 billion shillings.

Katera noted that Uganda Prisons owes 4 billion shillings, Uganda Police 6 billion shillings, UPDF 19 billion shillings and UBC 2 billion shillings.

Talking to the media after the committee meeting Hon. Medard Segona said that the committee has directed UEDCL and UMEME to ensure that that money is recovered.

Hon. Segona says that the parliament approves the budget for those organs annually adding that it is surprising that they do not pay for power when they have a vote for power in there budgets.

Hon. Segona adds that the parliament has reports that the police officers who stay in houses with electricity pay for their bills and he wonders where that money goes after collecting it.

Ultimate Media

The post UBC, police, UPDF and Uganda Prisons defaulting on electricity first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.