THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

PLOT 9-11 APOLLO KAGGWA ROAD. P.O. BOX 341, KAMPALA, UGANDA
TELEPHONES: General Line 0417 770500, Web: www.opm.go.ug, E-mail: ps@opm.go.ug
In any correspondence on this subject, please quote No: MING/04

17th JUNE 2015

PRESS STATEMENT ON ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL

MIGRATION IN UGANDA
As you may be aware, Uganda effected the Digital
switch-on for Television on Monday, 15th June 2015.
The switch from Analogue to Digital Transmission,
undertaken in the case of Uganda by the Uganda
Communications Communication, was in fulfilment of
an international deadline for the Analogue to Digital
Migration.
This deadline was set by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2006.
Uganda has membership to the International
Telecommunication
Union
(ITU),
a
Global
standardisation
and
regulatory
body
for
Telecommunications, which includes Radio and
Television Broadcasting.
Indeed, other countries in the Region and around the
World
also complied with this International
OPM
Vision: Ahave
Public Sector that is responsive and accountable in
sdeadline.
teering Uganda towards rapid economic growth and
development.

The objective of the shift is to enhance the quality of

services to viewers. Thus, at the Geneva International
Telecommunication Union Agreement of 2006, it was
required of all affiliated Members countries to migrate
from Analogue to Digital Television broadcasting, not
later than 17th July 2015.
The Analogue to Digital Migration is intended to
deliver an improved signal, with crisp picture quality
and clearer audio (sound) waves. Ultimately, the
Analogue to Digital switch was also envisaged to
revamp over-all Television services, including enriched
content so that Television plays a greater and more
central role in the Development process.
Ideally, we would like to have the whole of Uganda
fully covered under the Analogue to Digital Migration.
Government feels that this is the best way of having
enhanced Television services, for purposes of
informing, educating and entertaining our citizens. We
also believe that quality Television services are part
and parcel of entrenching transparency, accountability
and democratisation which the NRM Government
stands for.
The migration process will take place in three phases,
which include:
OPM Vision: A Public Sector that is responsive and

accountable in steering Uganda towards rapid economic

growth and development.

Page 2| of
4

A: The greater Kampala area, covering a radius of 65

Kilometres, which is already successfully covered
within the deadline set by the ITU.
B: Arua, Mbarara, Masindi, Masaka, Mbale, Hoima
and Kisoro, which will be covered by 31st July 2015.

C: Jinja, Lira, Kiboga, Kabale, Soroti, Gulu, FortPortal,

Rukungiri, Ntungamo and Rubirizi, which will be
covered by 31st August 2015.
I encourage our viewers to buy genuine Set Top
Boxes, which Signet, a company affiliated to UBC will
support. Set Top Boxes will be made available for
purchase at the UBC headquarters, on Nile Avenue, in
Kampala.
Any areas in Uganda that will have not been digitally
covered by the above dates will continue receiving
Television services through the Analogue system.
I, therefore, call upon all concerned institutions and
individuals to ensure that the remaining aspects of the
process are implemented to the letter. Television
viewers and the general public are encouraged to
continue seeking information about the migration
process to ensure that, ultimately, no one is left
behind.
OPM Vision: A Public Sector that is responsive and

accountable in steering Uganda towards rapid economic

growth and development.

Page 3| of
4

The Migration process is a noble exercise intended to

benefit the Country as whole. No one should,
therefore, distort or attempt to distort it for any other
motive(s).
I thank you for your attention.
For God and My Country.

Jim K. Muhwezi
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL
GUIDANCE

OPM Vision: A Public Sector that is responsive and

accountable in steering Uganda towards rapid economic

growth and development.

Page 4| of
4