UCC dismisses pastor Kayanja’s complaint against KTV, faults his Channel 44 over misreporting

What the report says

The Uganda Communications Commission has rejected a complaint by pastor Robert Kayanja against Kingdom Television, saying the station’s coverage of a court hearing in a criminal case was a fair account of what happened. The ruling, reported by The Observer, dealt with three related complaints tied to broadcasts about Criminal Case No. KLA-CO-605 of 2023, which concerns allegations connected to Kayanja’s Rubaga Miracle Centre church in Kampala.

According to the decision, Kayanja had accused KTV and reporter Annet Nakayibale of spreading false information about evidence given in court. But the regulator said the station’s report reflected the proceedings, and it also found that when the broadcast was checked against the record, a police forensic expert confirmed the core facts had been accurately presented. KTV said its story came directly from the hearing.

At the same time, the commission found problems with other broadcasts linked to Kayanja’s side. It said Channel 44 aired statements that were not supported by what had been said in court, and that a sermon carried on the station went beyond neutral reporting. A separate complaint involving Top TV also partially succeeded after the commission found the broadcast included interpretation and claims not established in the court record.

The regulator ordered the stations to exercise greater editorial caution in future coverage. The case highlights how Uganda’s communications regulator can intervene when broadcasters are said to misstate court proceedings or blur reporting with commentary.