Urban TV’s hardcore Lugambo Machinery Tina Fierce might never appear again on the screen again, that’s if she has no adequate academic papers required for Journalists!
Tina was suspended by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) after socialite Sheilah Gashumba among others ran to them with complaints. According to Sheilah, Tina always defamed and soiled her name while conducting her Scoop on Scoop program. Luckily enough her cries were heard and UCC forced Tina to step aside.
The Commission, says, although it has since learnt from social media that the program Scoop on Scoop is currently off air, the regulatory due process, which was already in motion, continues.
After squeezing the single mother of five to levels of submission, now the governing body wants her together with the producer of the show to produce their academic papers if they ever dream of bouncing back on TV or work with any other media house in the country.
According to the Commission, content and the nature of Scoop on Scoop program violates the Minimum Broadcasting Standards as enshrined in the Uganda Communications Act 2013.
The Commision tasked Urban TV to submit a written representation in response to the complaints, and recordings of the program for the period May 1 – 20, 2020.
And also to provide proof of certification and registration of the producer and the host of the programme, in accordance with sections 5 and 27 of the Press and Journalist Act, Cap. 105.
But Vision Group wrote to the Commission, stating that the complaint had been forwarded to its Human Resource Department for disciplinary proceedings. Vision Group enclosed DVDs of the programme, but neither made representations on the complaint as requested nor provided evidence of the producer and the host’s qualifications.
“Once the process is completed we shall advise on the outcome,” the Vision Group letter stated.
The programme is to remain suspended until Urban TV has satisfactorily demonstrated to the Commission that Scoop on Scoop “has sufficient controls to avoid the risk of breaching the Minimum Broadcasting Standards and the rights of other members of the public.”
Besides, the TV station is required to comply with the Commission’s directives issued earlier on May 25, 2020, and to submit recordings of the programme for the period between June 1-26, 2020.
The UCC Executive Director warned that Urban TV risks “other appropriate regulatory sanctions” if the station doesn’t adhere to the aforesaid directives. Sanctions available to the Commission in the event of failure to comply include suspension of the station’s broadcasting license.
Enock Mugabi aka iWitness is a Journalist, Seasoned Writer and Music Analyst with a passion for sports.
Connect with him on social media using the links below in bio.
