The government has warned private media practitioners against boycotting government activities following President Yoweri Museveni’s directive ring-fencing advertisements to only State owned media houses.

This was announced on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, by the Minister of ICT, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, during a briefing at the Media Centre in Kampala.

Minister Baryomunsi warned against sabotaging what the government is planning for the media in regards to the directive by the president to only advertise government-based programs on UBC and New Vision.

According to Baryomunsi, the Ministry of Information has been discussing the matter at hand with the National Association of Broadcasters, so they should not make a big issue out of it.

“I don’t think it is a sign of wisdom to be discussing something, and then you start blackmailing to boycott the functions of government. Unless they also say we should boycott the discussions that we are having, they should be patient with us,” Baryomunsi said.

He said that they have also appealed to the president, who has offered a private meeting with them on August 10, 2023, to discuss how they shall implement the guidance from the president without injuring the interests of the private media.

“If I have an advertisement, you can’t force me to give it to you. But we can discuss and see how we can work together. Like we have always done,” he added.

On Monday, the editors’ guild and the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association asked President Museveni to revoke the directive.

Recently, the National Association of Broadcasters threatened to stop broadcasting government events until President Yoweri Museveni revoked the order.