Uganda Communications Commission has said there is nothing personal against musicians Gereson Wabuyu also known as Gravity Omutujju and Yasin Mukasa, also known as Lil Pazo but rather some of their songs which are against the moral fabric of society.
Last week, UCC directed all media houses, including TVS, Radios and online platforms not to play any of the two singers’ songs including ‘Enkudi, Omuniyo, Enyama, Okwepiicha and Dooze’ since they have been complained of by members of the public for having vulgar and obscene words but also innuendos which go below the minimum broadcasting standards.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, UCC ED Nyombi Thembo said only a section of the two musicians’ songs are targeted by the recent ban.
“We have nothing against Lil Pazo or Gravity but we have issues with these particular songs. I am one of their biggest supports minus these songs,” Thembo said.
Following the recent ban, the two musicians insisted that their music is not vulgar, saying they have tried to package it to suit the public but speaking on Tuesday, the UCC Executive Director watered this argument down.
“It is not them to determine whether the music they have suits the public consumption. It is the public to determine. In fact, if they say those particular songs are well packaged to suit all audiences, it means their standard is very low.”
“Take an example of Fred Sebatta’s Dole W’omwana and Gologoosa. They are well packaged for all audiences.”
He insisted that only music which has been classified for certain audiences will be allowed to be played.
“Many of us might have at one point come across clips of live performances in public spaces that left us embarrassed before our own children and baffled at the audacity of the organisers and performers of such shows. This growing trend of both local and international artists engaging in provocative and offensive live performances is a threat to social order and can no longer be tolerated let alone ignored.”
Thembo said the regulation will also include stage plays and concerts that will have to be cleared by UCC.
“Organiser and promoters of indecent shows shall attract regulatory sanctions, including possible prosecution. We will work hand in hand with other key stakeholders to ensure that going forward, all concerts and public entertainment events will only take place after the necessary permits have been obtained as required by law.”
Whereas in the past international artists have not been subjected to these strict regulations, the UCC ED said going forward, they will not be spared.
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“We will stop these artists from performing in Uganda but also send them back to their home countries. This will mean, the promoter who will have given them some payment before performance will lose. This way, it will serve a lesson to promoters against bringing those vulgar musicians.”
He said those who want to organize such explicit concerts will have to declare to UCC and have them cleared with conditions to ensure they are only attended by adults and start after 11pm.
