Uganda
 |
Population: | 32,368,558 |
| Capital: |
Kampala |
|
| Language: | KiSwahili (official), English (official), various indigenous languages are widely spoken | |
| Literacy Rate: | 66.8% | |
| GDP/PP: | $1,100 | |
| Joined Commonwealth: |
9 October 1962 |
Media
Uganda was a pioneer in the liberalisation of the media in Africa. Private radio and TV have mushroomed since the government loosened controls in 1993 and by late 2006 the central region around Kampala was home to more than 40 FM radio stations and 10 TV stations. Many of these however are music stations. Rural radio stations serve various ethnic groups and there is a cluster of faith-based radios.
But the state often criticises the conduct of private broadcasters. Some have been accused of raising ethnic tensions and of being negative in their reporting.
The authorities suspended broadcasts of a popular private station KFM for a time in August 2005 after it broadcast a debate about the death of a Sudanese former rebel leader and have recently closed down a Baganda station following serious riots in the capital.
Radio is the most popular medium. Public UBC Radio can be heard across the country in English and vernacular languages. BBC World Service is widely available on FM (101.3 in Kampala), and Radio France Internationale broadcasts on FM in the capital.
Although the print media are led by the state-owned New Vision newspaper, it enjoys some independence and often publishes articles which criticise the government. The private press are vociferously critical of the government at times but provide the only independent view in what is becoming an increasingly harsh environment.
Newspapers
New Vision - state-owned daily, as are its sister vernacular papers, Bukedde, Etop, Rupiny and Orumuri
The Monitor - privately-owned daily
The Weekly Observer - privately-owned
Television
UBC TV - public, run by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation
WBS - private, operated by Wavah Broadcasting Service
Pulse TV - private
Nation TV (NTV) - private
East Africa TV - private
Radio
UBC Radio - public, run by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, operates five stations including commercial Star FM
Radio Simba - private
Capital Radio - private
KFM - private, operated by Monitor Publications
Radio One - private
Sanyu FM - Uganda's first private station
Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) - private, operated by Buganda Kingdom
City FM - private, operated by ruling National Resistance Movement
