By Jamillah Kemigisa
As Uganda heads toward the 2026 general elections, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has issued a stern directive to media houses: no alternative tally centers will be tolerated.
Speaking in Kampala, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said that only results officially released by the Electoral Commission (EC) will be permitted for broadcast. Any breach, he warned, would attract maximum penalties, including the withdrawal of broadcasting licenses.
The warning comes in the wake of controversies during the 2021 elections, when some media houses attempted to run independent tally centers. That election was marred by an internet blackout and accusations of selective enforcement—critics claimed certain outlets sympathetic to government were allowed tally access while others were shut out.
By moving preemptively this time, UCC appears determined to avoid what Nyombi called “dangerous and unverified reporting.” Yet to many observers, the directive revives concerns about media freedom, transparency, and the independence of the EC itself.
Uganda’s media plays a central role during elections—not just in relaying results but also in shaping public trust in the process. Nyombi urged journalists to remain “impartial referees, not political players,” noting that some media practitioners with political ambitions have continued broadcasting while pursuing office. He described this as both illegal and unprofessional.
But press freedom advocates argue that barring independent tallies risks reducing the media to mere echo chambers of official announcements. Opposition politicians have long accused the EC of partisanship, and media-run tallies have often been seen as a check against manipulation.
The UCC’s message was reinforced by UPDF spokesperson Brig. Felix Kulayigye, who accused some outlets of spreading hearsay. He urged media to prioritize fact-checking, warning that unverified reports could destabilize the country.
With citizen journalism flourishing and social media platforms amplifying raw, unfiltered content, mainstream media faces a new test: to outpace misinformation by maintaining credibility and accuracy.
At its core, UCC’s directive reflects Uganda’s uneasy balance between safeguarding stability and upholding transparency. While regulators emphasize peace and order, critics warn that restricting media autonomy could deepen mistrust in official results.
As the 2026 race gathers momentum, the battle over who controls election information may prove just as decisive as the vote itself.
