The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has directed telecommunications operators to block at least 500 websites found to be distributing pornographic content, in a move aimed at enforcing national content and broadcasting standards.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Ibrahim Bossa said the action follows a formal notice issued to telecom operators on April 2, with providers now having complied and restricted access to the identified sites.
Bossa explained that the directive is grounded in the Uganda Communications Act, which mandates the regulator under Sections 5 and 10 to set standards, monitor content, and enforce compliance across the communications sector.
He added that Section 33 of the Act empowers the Commission to enforce minimum broadcasting standards, including provisions that prohibit content deemed contrary to public morality.
“These standards prohibit the broadcast of content that is contrary to morality and require that adult-oriented programs are appropriately scheduled,” he said.
The Commission noted that the enforcement is further guided by the Uganda Communications Content Regulations, as well as provisions under the Penal Code Act that criminalise offences against morality and seek to protect children from exposure to pornography.
Officials say the blocked sites include a mix of both local and international platforms, reflecting the cross-border nature of online content distribution.
However, even as it cited the figure of 500 blocked websites, the Commission acknowledged a key limitation in enforcement—users can still access restricted content through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which allow them to bypass local internet controls.
Bossa admitted that while the directive has been implemented by telecom operators, the use of such internet protocol bypass tools remains a challenge in fully restricting access.
The development highlights the broader difficulty regulators face in policing online content in an increasingly global and decentralised digital environment.
UCC maintains that the move is part of its wider mandate to safeguard the public—particularly minors—from harmful content, warning that exposure to explicit material poses risks of mental, moral, and ethical harm.
The Commission has reiterated its commitment to continued monitoring and enforcement, signalling that further action could be taken against operators or platforms found in violation of Uganda’s communications and content regulations.
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