TV10 Executive Fined Shs4 Million, Equipment Forfeited Over Illegal Broadcasting

KAMPALA, Uganda — The Chief of Strategy at TV10 Gano Mazima, Dean Lubowa Ssaava, has been fined Shs4 million and ordered to forfeit all broadcasting equipment after pleading guilty to operating without a licence issued by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

The case highlights the legal consequences of running a media platform without regulatory approval.

Lubowa faced three counts related to the unauthorised installation and operation of broadcasting equipment. Court documents indicate that between November 2018 and September 26, 2025, he and others operated an online television station known as TV10 Gano Mazima without obtaining the mandatory licence from the UCC.

The offence contravenes Section 28(1) and (2) of the Uganda Communications Act, Cap 103.

He was also charged with disobeying lawful directives issued by the UCC. Between August 23 and September 26, 2025, Lubowa allegedly ignored orders dated August 22, 2025, requiring him to cease broadcasting, retract statements made against complainants , including Alex Lutaaya Mukomazi, PostBank Limited, and Al Hajji Prof. Badru Dungu Katerega and remove contentious content.

His failure to comply constituted a violation of Regulation 46 of the Uganda Communications (Content) Regulations, 2019.

Plea Bargain and Court Proceedings

During proceedings before Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu, Dr Abdul Salam Waiswa, representing the UCC, informed the court that Lubowa had voluntarily entered into a plea bargain agreement with the State.

According to the prosecution, the UCC received complaints from several aggrieved parties regarding Lubowa’s broadcasts. Despite being directed during a meeting on September 10, 2025, to halt operations and address the complaints, he reportedly failed to comply.

The prosecutor argued that unregulated broadcasting harms society by disseminating content that does not meet professional standards and deprives the government of revenue through unpaid licensing fees.

Under the plea agreement, Lubowa expressed remorse and undertook to regularise his operations by obtaining the appropriate licences.

Sentence and Confiscation

In sentencing, the court considered Lubowa’s plea and his status as the sole breadwinner of his family.

He was ordered to pay:

Shs3 million for operating without a licence,

Shs500,000 for illegal broadcasting, and

Shs500,000 for disobeying lawful orders.

In default of payment, he faces a one-year custodial sentence. The court further ruled that any time spent on remand would be deducted from the sentence if imprisonment becomes necessary.

Additionally, all broadcasting equipment used in the illegal operations, including cameras, microphones, sound recorders, mixers, flash disks, and computers , was forfeited to the UCC.

However, two Apple laptops (a MacBook Pro and a slim Apple desktop) claimed by Media Avenue Ltd will be returned upon proof of ownership.

On February 13, 2026, Magistrate Kamasanyu formally accepted the plea agreement, convicted Lubowa, and imposed the agreed sentence.