The Ugandan TV market, like any others in the region, is set to migrate from the current analog broadcasting platform to digital broadcasting by next year. The controversy surrounding the contract is expected to delay the migration period, however.

The controversy in Uganda and Kenya comes less than a month after the Chinese government was accused of helping to block news websites in Ethiopia and jamming Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) and other broadcasters. The Ethiopian Free Press Journalist Association (EFJA) has said that China has been providing training, technology and technical assistance to the regime to enable it to jam ESAT's transmission.