Well, just like the license directive expired with fewer registrations garnered from the target channel owners, the communication authority decided to write a letter directing Google to block all Youtube channels Live broadcasting Police violence on civilians and presidential aspirant Bobi Wine.

Prior to receiving the letter which included a list of 17 Youtube Channels, Google has responded to the commission’s request and refused to block the stated channels unless an official court order is produced with specific videos violating community guidelines – as reported by the Independent.

According to the UCC letter, platforms and networks like Youtube are being used to publish, disseminate, and broadcast content contrary to the Uganda Communications Act of 2013 and regulation 8(2) of the Uganda Communications (Content) regulations of 2019.

Furthermore, broadcasted Youtube content on the channels contains extremist or anarchic messages likely to incite violence against sections of the public on account of their tribe and political opinions –– the letter further read, with a list of violating Youtube channels which include:

• Ghetto TV
• Map Mediya TV
• Namungo Media
• Busesa Media Updates
• Uganda Empya
• KK TV Uganda
• Ekyooto TV
• Bobi Wine 2021
• JB Muwonge
• Among others.

In reply, Google has mentioned that listed channels haven’t violated any Youtube Community Standards at the moment, and so, blocking them on the platform would require a court order together with proof of violation as requested by UCC without prior evidence.

” It is very hard to just have a channel removed due to a government request. We always follow local law, but it would have to be a valid court order. The letters just show what the UCC submitted to the Embassy; they are not court orders “

Said Dorothy Ooko –– Head of Google Communications in Africa

Conditions under which Youtube can block a Channel

As per Youtube community content guidelines, the platform doesn’t allow pornography, incitement to violence, hate speech, and harassment. To detect violations, the video hosting platform relies on people and technology to flag inappropriate content and enforce its listed guidelines.

Additionally, a Youtube Channel may only be terminated (blocked and removed) if it receives 3 warnings in a 90day timeframe, or has a single severe case of abuse, or it’s determined to be fully dedicated to violating the platform’s set guidelines.

“Flags can come from our automated flagging systems, from members of the Trusted Flagger program (NGOs, government agencies, and individuals) or from users in the broader YouTube community,”

The Youtube Community guidelines page reads

Hence, the only way UCC can succeed in influencing the removal of all listed Youtube channels broadcasting Presidential Candidate Bobi Wine’s campaign trail in Uganda is through acquiring a Court order to be submitted to Google for immediate removal of all violating channels.

Otherwise, as per the political atmosphere in Uganda where mainstream media has become a yesterday norm due to high restrictions mounted by UCC, online media channels continue to be major sources of information for most Netizens due to their Live streaming mode of execution.

So, UCC’s plan to regulate online media TVs seems to be more difficult than anticipated since Google has showed no signs of helping the commission tame opposition favorite channels in light of the current political atmosphere. Nonetheless, if UCC produces a court order directing Youtube to take down channels, then, the platform’s community guidelines will be skipped in respect for the law.

Hon Minister Judith Nabakooba replaces Hon Frank Tumwebaze who handed over his office docket today at the Ministry headquarters along Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala. The latter joins the Ministry of Gender, Labor and social development as the former becomes the first female minister to lead an ICT driven Ministry.

On the other hand, Hon Peter Ogwang replaces Hon Aidah Nantaba as the new ICT state Minister. While handing over to Hon Nabakooba, Hon Frank Tumwebaze commended the roles played by the Ministry agencies__NITA-U and UCC in improving Internet connectivity in Uganda

This is after the Hon Tumwebaze officiated the National backbone Infrastructure project extension to remote areas like Koboko, Katakwi among others in a bid to avail Internet services to these regions.

Additionally, the Minister’s contributions to the ICT Innovation ecosystem have left initiatives like the National ICT Initiatives Support Program (NIISP) that aims at creating a vast marketplace for local Innovative digital products to help Innovators market their creations.

The Incoming Minister Hon Judith Nabakooba promised to maintain the trend and further inked her plans for the Ministry with core focus on fighting any corruption incidences under her leadership.

We are going to analyse how much Uganda has been connected to the internet. I will also not entertain corruption,

Hon Judith Nabakooba

The Handover Ceremony at the Ministry headquarters was attended by the wing’s Permanent Secretary – Hon. Vincent Waiswa Bagiire, The UCC, NITA-U and Uganda Media Center Executive Directors – Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi, Mr. James Saaka, Mr. Ofwono Opondo respectively

Well, the Speaker of Parliament has today expressed her concern about a ready and fully functional App ready for download off all popular Smartphone stores.

According to Hon Rebecca Kadaga__the Speaker of Parliament, she tasked the house’s ICT team to develop an App to improve public participation in committee proceedings and other house activities.

However, since the team has not deployed the Parliament App as yet, the Speaker has expressed her concern to expedite the process during her official attendance at the 25th conference of commonwealth speakers in Canada as she commented

Where I am not yet satisfied is the public input into our legislation. I asked ICT team to prepare this app but its taking a long time. I hope they deliver because it’s very essential that we able to reach out to the public on relevant discussion about the bills in committees

Hon Rebecca Kadaga – Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda

This was in reply to a commendation directed to her by the conference chair who said,

Uganda’s Parliament has done quite a lot in being open to the public with a live broadcast giving Ugandans an opportunity to follow the goings-on in the House in real time

In a nutshell, expect the Uganda Parliament App to go live very soon now that the Speaker is ready to task the creators to expedite the deployment process in order to have the App join a list of other locally developed apps.

The FCC order bans carriers in rural America from tapping the Universal Service Fund (USF) to purchase Huawei equipment.

In a petition filed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Huawei asks the court to hold the FCC’s order unlawful on the grounds that it fails to offer Huawei required due process protections in labelling Huawei as a national security threat.

Huawei believes that the FCC also fails to substantiate its arbitrary findings with evidence or sound reasoning or analysis, in violation of the U.S. Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and other laws.

“Banning a company like Huawei, just because we started in China – this does not solve cyber security challenges,” Huawei’s Chief Legal Officer Dr. Song Liuping said at a press conference.

Song said both FCC chairman Ajit Pai and other FCC commissioners failed to present any evidence to prove their claim that Huawei constitutes a security threat, and ignored the facts and objections raised by Huawei and rural carriers after the FCC first made the proposal in March, 2018.

“Huawei also submitted 21 rounds of detailed comments, explaining how the order will harm people and businesses in remote areas. The FCC ignored them all,” he said.

“Carriers across rural America, in small towns in Montana, Kentucky, and farms in Wyoming – they choose to work with Huawei because they respect the quality and integrity of our equipment,” Song added. “The FCC should not shut down joint efforts to connect rural communities in the U.S.”

Glen Nager, Huawei’s lead counsel for the legal action, said the FCC has simply adopted a standard-less rule that, by its own admission, was designed with only Huawei and another Chinese company in mind.

In addition, Nager said the decision adopted by FCC exceeds the agency’s “statutory authority,” as the FCC is not authorized to make national security judgements or to restrict the use of USF funds based on such judgments. “Indeed, the Commission has no national security expertise or authority.”

In a nutshell, all restrictions pounded on-to Huawei sound from the US entity list sanctions against the Chinese brand.

Huawei Technologies USA Inc. (HT USA), has officially dropped its lawsuit with an active banner dated on Sept. 9 against the US Commerce Department and several other US government agencies that it has filed back in June.

The case was originally filed in response to telecommunications equipment that was seized without justification by US officials in September 2017. After a prolonged and unexplained seizure, Huawei has decided to drop the case after the US government returned the equipment.

This case was cited among a series of concerns the company recently enumerated with regard to inappropriate and unjustified actions against Huawei by the US government.

The equipment, which includes computer servers, Ethernet switches, and other telecommunications gear made by Huawei in China, should have been shipped back to China after commercial testing and certification at a laboratory in California in September 2017.

The US Commerce Department, citing unidentified export violation concerns, seized the equipment while it was in transit. In the two years since, and despite multiple requests from Huawei, the US government failed to make a decision on whether an export license was required for the equipment to be shipped back to China, and continued to hold it.

Huawei had no alternative but to file a lawsuit on June 21 at the US District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the US government’s prolonged and unexplained failure to determine whether the equipment could be shipped to China without an export license. These actions by the US Government violated the Constitution and the Administrative Procedures Act, among others.

In August, the US government informed HT USA in writing that, following a belated investigation, it had determined that no export license was required for shipment to China, and Huawei had complied with the Export Administration Regulations when attempting to ship the equipment back. The US government shipped the equipment back to HT USA at the government’s expense.

Dr. Song Liuping, Huawei’s chief legal officer, said Huawei has landed a de facto victory despite its voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit, but is still disappointed by the fact that the US government has failed to provide any explanation for unlawfully withholding Huawei equipment for so long.

In a notice of voluntary dismissal filed with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, HT USA said it requested in writing the US Commerce Department to explain fully why it detained the equipment in 2017, why it decided to release it now, and why it took almost two years to recognize that the equipment’s detention was not justified. Thus far the government has refused to explain.

“Arbitrary and unlawful government actions like this – detaining property without cause or explanation – should serve as a cautionary tale for all companies doing normal business in the United States, and should be subject to legal constraints,” said Dr. Song.

In a media statement on September 3, Huawei listed how the US government has been using every tool at its disposal – including both judicial and administrative powers – to disrupt the normal business operations of the company.

This includes obstructing normal business activities and technical communications through intimidation, denying visas, and detaining shipments. Dr. Song noted that Huawei will continue to vigorously defend its legitimate rights and interests with legal means.

Last week, the Body celebrated 50 years of its existence in an event that was braced by IT professionals and certified sector players for a 3-day long conference ignited by NITA Uganda as the main partner onboard.

During the conference, key speakers like the NITA-U head of eGovernance Vivian Ddambya inked their top future technological predictions amidst a 3 day scrutineering on IT and digital security in this fast-pace generation.

The event was kicked off by the Kampala ISACA President MR Hercules Bizure who inked the role of cybersecurity as the middle element in the 4th industrial revolution digital digest as he commented.

With all the immense digital opportunities today, we’re seeing an exponential growth in cyber attacks. This is why and the time for organizations to prioritize having a cyber security strategy as part of their business strategy

Hercules Bizure – President ISACA Kampala

Among the key points of discussion for the conference included the NITA-U ignited data protection law that was recently turned into a law by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni__The President of Uganda. The law was discussed by the NITA’s Director of regulation and legal services Ms. Stella Alibateese.

The law which was established as a digital protection element is aimed at benefiting both individuals and companies on their data shared across the digital waves. As a Spice, Ms. Stella asserted that it further protects the use of personal data collected by organisations for purposes of private usage.

In an event where an organization discloses private data as a public venture without a court order, then the data privacy and protection law would step in to prosecute the violating institution. This applies to Nude picture leaks where the affected party would have the right to sue the initial sender without further question.

On the Sate of Cyber Security in the Digital revolution path

In a master class hosted by Musa Wesusa, the Managing Director at Sentinel Africa Consulting. eh drew more light on the new levels cybersecurity professionals must attain to rule deal with the low awareness and more rising cases of cyber attacks.

The master class was titled “How to build, implement and maintain an effective cybersecurity awareness program in organization”. Among the key take away points included the fact that password safety is now a core component in a digital era.

The same way you can check the strength of your password with a tool we previously shared, Is the same path you every digital user must choose to keep a password as safe as its strength crawls to. A majority of users cling to one password for almost all internet accounts putting safety and privacy at risk.

So, through the conference, major stakeholders stated that cybersecurity is still a rising need and more professionals could guarantee a safer global network as the future draws closer to new 5G standards. Nonetheless, with ISACA celebrating 50 years of its existence, its impact continues to draw more professionals riding in the audit league.

In the letter, Huawei states the report describes Huawei’s alleged involvement with government cybersecurity forces in Uganda and Zambia is neither a fair nor a responsible representation of Huawei’s legitimate business activities in these countries.

The Wall Street report comes up as a spice to the ongoing Huawei troubles and its allegations against the Chinese brand might trigger its downfall with a legal letter to prove the sources for their widely shared report that we further published on Tech Point Magazine.

Huawei is especially disappointed in the Article and video and radio podcast in light of the information Huawei provided to you during your research for this Article, including its email communications from June 19

The letter states

According to the letter, those email communications included specific information that a number of the statements in the Article about Huawei’s alleged involvement with government cybersecurity forces were demonstrably false.

Based on Huawei’s June 19 email and other information it provided to you, it is reasonable to conclude that you knew that these sources were not reliable. As a result, and at a minimum, the Journal published these false statements in reckless disregard of their veracity

Says the letter

Huawei states in the letter that it takes these false and defamatory statements about its business seriously for the publication of these false statements has and will continue to damage Huawei’s reputation plus business interests across the globe.

Huawei reserves all rights and claims in this regard and will defend its conduct and reputation. Hence, if Wall street fails to prove its August 14th publication in the legal window, then it will be destined for the worst terms prepared by the Chinese brand.

A copy of Huawei’s legal letter to Wall Street Over the published Fake News

Editor’s Note: This is a copy of an official release from Huawei Uganda and duly published with permission

In an Investigative story reported the Wall street journal, Huawei technicians got into action to hack and share opposition key figure communications to private Government authorities.

In the report, it’s confirmed that specific Huawei technicians were the ones involved in the Government fix and not the company as a whole, meaning it is a private individualistic project further driven by specific Government officials in conjunction with the Chinese wing.

Further in the report, Government authorities had clear access to leaked data by Huawei in form of Whatsapp messages and several social media interactions between the People Power camp (Bobi Wine) and other politicians powering up the Uganda opposition wing.

It’s through these messages that Police reportedly managed to stop planned riots and public assemblies organized by Hon Robert Kyagulanyi (BobiWine) and the People Power camp in Uganda.

In Zambia, Huawei reportedly leaked private information of opposition bloggers who were behind a popular and fully biased news site together with several opposing Facebook pages rallying against President Edgar Lungu before the country police stepped in to arrest them.

However, Huawei has denied the allegations and inked that no relations occur between its executives and the mentioned African Governments. In a statement further shared by Wall Street, a Huawei spokesperson flagged the published news as false as he commented.

Huawei rejects completely these unfounded and inaccurate allegations against our business operations. Our internal investigation shows clearly that its employees have not been engaged in any of the activities alleged. We have neither the contracts, nor the capabilities, to do so

While becoming a perfect social media Influencer/ blogger in Uganda is as easy as owning a Smartphone or a computer. It will now become difficult to earn a penny from your content published online without a valid certification document from UCC.

According to UCC, It plans to register all Social media bloggers who earn a cent from the posts they publish. With a slight change in who must voluntarily register as a certified Influencer in Uganda, UCC’s call sounds like one for all high-follower Ugandans on Twitter (UOT).

Who Must Register With UCC

According to the UCC spokesperson Ibrahim Bbosa, the commission is not interested in Individuals but rather entities earning from content published on their digital platforms. Whether through Ads or sponsored content, It’s all part of the earning cycle.

Key portals include, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube that act as breeding grounds for bloggers who earn money from advertisers and Influence off their individual channels.

People who have commercialized either have a deliberate strategy or effort purposely to reach large audiences, and in the UCC Act when you are broadcasting, you need to know what the rules of the game are

Ibrahim BBosa – UCC SpokesPerson

In summary, each and every Social Media Influencer or blogger sharing paid content or charging a Gig fee when invited to keynote events will have to battle with a UCC certification in order to legally operate on the Uganda digital space.

Since the Ugandan influencer market is all about networking and instead of actual Influence. This means every tweep with a high follower count willing to earn money from content shared on his/her page will have to certify with UCC as a node in the mentioned rules of the game.

Why UCC Wants all Influencers registered

By mounting a regulation on entities making money from Influencing their online audiences, the UCC regulation implies that whoever posts any form of sponsored content online must adhere to the rules of digital engagements pace set by the communication body.

In return, UCC aims at regulating each and every Influencer/Blogger on the kind of Information they can share and what they must avoid together with implications that check-in once a violation is detected by the commission.

It’s through the same fashion that all media stations in Uganda including free to air channels, paid TV channels and radio stations are regulated. However, UCC has not listed any penalties for Influencers and bloggers who wish to dodge the new certification rule, but instead a touch consequence for the black hat league.

Bloggers like “ Ands Jeff @andsjeff (Twitter), Tom Voltaire Okwalinga (Facebook) ” and many more anonymous users will be unmasked with the advancements in technology as UCC’s Ibrahim Bbosa further lamented in his remarks.

But, as per the new policy, only masked users generating income from their following will be held accountable leaving a big question as to whether UCC aims at regulating Information shared on the OTT taxed platforms or simply interested in spicing up the URA banquet.

The future of UCC’s Certification on Influencers/bloggers

The new UCC policy steps in as a spicer to last year’s certification call for all online publishing blogs to have clear documentation on their existence and data shared across their channels.

But this time around, the notes have slightly changed with key focus on the regulation of bloggers and Influencers sharing information for Income generation on all major digital platforms.

Henceforth, its a tight one for money-generating users who from Today Tuesday 13th August 2019 must be in the UCC records with a voluntary call-out and not a compulsory policy as per the commission’s communication lines.

With the new UCC policy currently in play and already attracting both negative & positive feedback off Twitter and Facebook, What’s your take on the new rule? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section or participate in our poll below.

[totalpoll id=”7966″]

Though the Chinese tech giant has had unfixed ties with UK’s close allies, its stand on cybersecurity sounds convincing to UK officials who believe Huawei is one of the best 5G network drivers they can accommodate in the region.

According to Norman Lamb, who chairs the Science and Technology Committee, the consideration of the ethical and geopolitical status of UK would delay the rollout of 5G in the country since all its allies chose to ditch Huawei and a deep consideration would help accommodate new decisions.

“The Government needs to consider whether the use of Huawei’s technology would jeopardize this country’s ongoing co-operation with our major allies,” said Mr. Lamb.

United Kingdom (UK) is a members of the “Five Eyes” alliance, consisting of United States (US), Australia, New Zealand and Canada of which US has not fully cleared Huawei off its entity list as its North American counterpart has also delayed its decision on whether to follow its Southern neighbor until elections come to a close.

Athough the UK stand against its allies comes in at a time when SouthAfrica chose its side on 5G roll out in the region. Chairman Norman Lamb insisted that ” Their’s no technological reason to exclude Huawei entirely. As network operators expect that it would delay the rollout of 5G across the UK by tow or three years”

Given the fact that UK’s 4 Major networks rely on Huawei for network support to rollout 5G in the country as per a recent report, It means the country has no option but to sideline with the Chinese giant the same way US can‘t fully do way with the Tech company.