The Minister of Information, Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, has reinforced a recent directive by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) cautioning candidates against using the media to dispute officially declared election results.
Speaking at a news briefing on Wednesday, Baryomunsi said Uganda’s electoral laws provide clear mechanisms for addressing grievances and urged dissatisfied candidates to seek redress through the courts instead of radio and television talk shows.
“In an election, you either win or you lose. There are avenues provided for those who may have grievances. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the results, you are free to go to court,” he said.
The minister called for restraint and professionalism in public discourse, particularly within the media, warning against conduct that could incite the public or undermine democratic institutions.
“We need decency in the media. Yes, you can debate the election outcomes, but let’s remain decent. Let’s not engage in behavior that incites the public,” he said.
Baryomunsi stressed that broadcast platforms should not be turned into arenas for litigating electoral disputes, noting that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the courts.
He urged moderators and media practitioners to adhere strictly to minimum broadcasting standards.
“UCC is cautioning against misusing the media when we have electoral grievances. The media should not be the platform where we take our fights; such matters should be taken to court,” he said.
He also condemned the celebration of death in public discourse, describing it as morally unacceptable and culturally inappropriate.
“It is uncultured to celebrate the death of someone because all of us will die at one time or another. So, anyone who celebrates death must be a night dancer,” he said.
Reflecting on Uganda’s political history, Baryomunsi said one of the achievements of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has been the restoration of civil-military relations.
“When you look at the history of this country, we have gone through times when the army was an enemy of the people. One of the key achievements of the NRM government is that it restored civil-military relations, so that a soldier is no longer feared,” he said.
The minister’s remarks follow a public notice issued by UCC on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, warning broadcasters against facilitating the dissemination of unverified election-related claims.
In the notice, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said the Commission had observed a “worrying trend” of unsuccessful parliamentary and local government candidates using radio and television platforms to dispute officially declared results through what he termed sensational and unverified allegations.
“The Electoral Commission is the sole constitutional authority responsible for declaring election results in Uganda,” Nyombi said.
He emphasized that any candidate dissatisfied with election outcomes must follow lawful procedures, including filing petitions within the legally prescribed timelines.
“Those dissatisfied with election outcomes must seek redress through the courts by filing petitions within the legally set timelines,” he said.
The Commission warned that broadcasting unverified results, parallel tallies, or speculative allegations is unlawful and risks causing public panic, confusion, and erosion of trust in democratic institutions.
“Broadcasting unverified results, parallel tallies, or speculative allegations is unlawful and can lead to public panic, confusion, and a loss of trust in democratic institutions,” Nyombi noted.
UCC directed all broadcasters to refrain from airing content that disputes declared election results without verification against official Electoral Commission sources.
The directive also prohibits programs that promote unofficial results or unsubstantiated claims and calls for strict editorial oversight to ensure compliance.
Nyombi warned that the regulator would not hesitate to take enforcement action against stations that violate the directive.
“UCC will take decisive enforcement action against any broadcaster violating these laws or guidelines,” he said, urging media owners, editors, and the public to use broadcast platforms responsibly in ways that promote national unity, peace, and democratic integrity.
The directives have been criticised as an affront to freedom of expression as they deny the losers the chance to vent pent up energy or frame their grievances to the voters.
