By Sadique Bamwita
KAMPALA
The Chief Magistrate court at Makindye in charge of Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court has sentenced ex- NTV journalist, Dean Saava Lubowa for three counts related to unlawful broadcasting. He was sentenced on February 27, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to multiple communications related offences.
The convict, the proprietor of the online platform TV10 – Gano Mazima, was arrested and charged in October 2025 with unlawful broadcasting.
Prosecution informed court that the convict had installed and operated a broadcasting facility without a licence issued by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)-the official licensing body in Uganda.
Saava was found guilty of airing content in breach of the Minimum Broadcasting Standards. On this note, the Commission said it had received a series of complaints against the convict on accusations of defamation as well as allegations of using his platform to blackmail and intimidate public officials.
Prosecution told court that a formal directive was issued by the Commission requiring the convict to cease operations and regularize his status, but defiant Saava continued to broadcast in open defiance of the law, prompting the Commission to take legal action against him.
While in the court dock, Saava pleaded guilty to all the communications-related offences committed in contravention of the Uganda Communications Act and other applicable laws and regulations.
He went on to admit to installing and operating online TV broadcasting apparatus without a licence issued by the Uganda Communications Commission on top of disobeying lawful orders of the Commission.
In her ruling, Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu sentenced Saava as follows: on Count One, to a fine of Shs 3 million or one year’s imprisonment; on Count Two, to a fine of Shs 500,000 or one year’s imprisonment; and on Count Three, to a fine of Shs 500,000 or six months’ imprisonment, or both.
Saava also forfeited 45 pieces of equipment that had been seized from his offices and studio of TV10 – Gano Mazima in Lungujja, Kyobe Zone, Rubaga, Kampala. The court ordered that the equipment be disposed of by the Uganda Communications Commission in accordance with the law.
