Kampala, 13th/Nov/2010; A Radio Simba journalist Arafat Nzito who went missing 8 days ego has been released from detention after the intervention of the Human Rights Network for journalists-Uganda.
Nzito, 23, was kidnapped from Radio Simba on 4th/Nov/2010 by four plain-clothed men in a private registered Toyota double cabin at around 2:30pm.
His relatives, friends and workmates mounted a search at all police and security centers within and around Kampala in vain since his disappearance. The security and police authorities all denied knowledge of his wear-abouts.
This compelled HRNJ-Uganda to go to court over the matter and filed a Habeas corpus through their lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi on Thursday 12th/Nov, tasking the army commander, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) boss Brigadier James Mugira and the Attorney General Dr. Kiddhu Makubuya to produce the missing journalist.
The following day, Nzito secured his freedom. He was dumped at Kasasiro stage in Kamwokya, a suburb of Kampala Friday 12th/Nov/2010 in the afternoon.
“He called us at around 3:00 o’clock informing us that he was at Kamwokya where he had been dumped and that he was boarding a taxi to come to the radio. We stopped him and sent a station van which picked him and brought him to the station.” said a staff member at Radio Simba who preferred not to be named.
Sources say that Nzito was dumped by the same double cabin which kidnapped him from the radio.
Prior to his release, Nzito’s older sister Hadijah Nantambi and HRNJ-Uganda’s Ssebaggala received anonymous calls to the effect that, “Nzito has been released, find him at Simba”. Nzito was readily at Simba in about 20 minutes from then.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has since established that Nzito has been detained at the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT) headquarters at Kololo in Kampala-Uganda’s capital city, under horrible conditions.
“He looked stressed, dirty and couldn’t talk much or even answer to most of the questions we put to him. He had visibly lost weight”. Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes coordinator, Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala who met him at Radio Simba
“It is very sad that after all this incarceration, no charges were brought against him. This is violence and torture at its best. It’s not clear why Nzito was kidnapped and detained for over a week. We want the security to justify this gross abuse of the law.” Demands the HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala
For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo-Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
P.O.Box.71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627
Toll Free Helpline; 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FOR JOURNALISTS UGANDA (HRNJ-Uganda)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Radio Simba journalist goes missing
Kampala, 09th/Nov/2010; A Radio Simba journalist, Arafat Nzito has gone missing and his whereabouts remain unknown since 3rd/Nov/2010.
Nzito, 23years, was picked by plain clothed men in a private registration Toyota double cabin on 3rd/Nov/2010 at around 2:00pm local time from Radio Simba.
He is a resident of Kitintale, in Nakawa division, in Kampala –Uganda’s capital city.
Radio Simba’s chief news editor, Emmanuel Okello told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda(HRNJ-Uganda) that Nzito’s disappearance followed him receiving numerous phone calls to go and see meet some people in the radio’s parking yard-about 30meters away.
So he left his work half done and went to meet those people but he never returned to complete filing his news story. He did not return the following day as well.
According to an eye witness who declined to be named, Nzito was whisked away by four men in a vehicle with tinted screens at around 2:30pm. He first talked to them before he sat in the back seat in between two men. He did not notice the car registration number.
Nzito joined Simba last year as an intern student, and upon completion of his internship, he was enrolled as a reporter but on probation for two months now.
He regularly reports news from the police and the opposition Forum for Democratic Change which is the leading opposition political party in Uganda.
“He did not return to office to complete the story, so I called his cell phone but was not picking up. He did not report the next day, so I called again to no response. When I called again in the afternoon, the phone had been switched off”. Said Radio Simba Chief News Editor Emmanuel Okello
Nzito’s sister, Hadijah Nantambi has told HRNJ-Uganda that she noticed his absence on 5th/Nov/2010 yet his cell phone was off.
“When his phone remained off all through the night, I reported the matter to police and searched at various police stations and the Rapid Response Unit (RRU)- a serious crime crack down unit, but could not find him. We are very scared for his life, we need help”. Said Nantambi
The commandant of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), James Mugira was surprised when HRNJ-Uganda contacted him over the matter.
“It’s news to me, but I am dispatching a team to investigate the younger man’s disappearance”. Mugira said.
“We are greatly concerned about such incidents; these threats are real at a time when politics is at its peak in Uganda ahead of the general elections early next year. Justice should prevail all the time, so Nzito’s captors should subject him to the courts of law if they suspect him of any crime”. Said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala
For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo-Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
P.O.Box.71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627
Toll Free Helpline; 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Nzito, 23years, was picked by plain clothed men in a private registration Toyota double cabin on 3rd/Nov/2010 at around 2:00pm local time from Radio Simba.
He is a resident of Kitintale, in Nakawa division, in Kampala –Uganda’s capital city.
Radio Simba’s chief news editor, Emmanuel Okello told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda(HRNJ-Uganda) that Nzito’s disappearance followed him receiving numerous phone calls to go and see meet some people in the radio’s parking yard-about 30meters away.
So he left his work half done and went to meet those people but he never returned to complete filing his news story. He did not return the following day as well.
According to an eye witness who declined to be named, Nzito was whisked away by four men in a vehicle with tinted screens at around 2:30pm. He first talked to them before he sat in the back seat in between two men. He did not notice the car registration number.
Nzito joined Simba last year as an intern student, and upon completion of his internship, he was enrolled as a reporter but on probation for two months now.
He regularly reports news from the police and the opposition Forum for Democratic Change which is the leading opposition political party in Uganda.
“He did not return to office to complete the story, so I called his cell phone but was not picking up. He did not report the next day, so I called again to no response. When I called again in the afternoon, the phone had been switched off”. Said Radio Simba Chief News Editor Emmanuel Okello
Nzito’s sister, Hadijah Nantambi has told HRNJ-Uganda that she noticed his absence on 5th/Nov/2010 yet his cell phone was off.
“When his phone remained off all through the night, I reported the matter to police and searched at various police stations and the Rapid Response Unit (RRU)- a serious crime crack down unit, but could not find him. We are very scared for his life, we need help”. Said Nantambi
The commandant of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), James Mugira was surprised when HRNJ-Uganda contacted him over the matter.
“It’s news to me, but I am dispatching a team to investigate the younger man’s disappearance”. Mugira said.
“We are greatly concerned about such incidents; these threats are real at a time when politics is at its peak in Uganda ahead of the general elections early next year. Justice should prevail all the time, so Nzito’s captors should subject him to the courts of law if they suspect him of any crime”. Said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala
For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo-Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
P.O.Box.71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627
Toll Free Helpline; 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Court suspends Basajjabalaba assault case
Kampala/01st/Nov/2010; Buganda road court on 29th/Oct/2010 dismissed an assault case of a Kampala business don Hassan Basajjabalaba after the prosecution reported of unconcluded investigations into the matter by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Grade one magistrate Francis Kobusheshe noted that an assault case is not so complex to investigate and wondered what takes the Director of Public Prosecution so long to wind up with his investigations.
Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba the chairman Entrepreneurship league in ruling party National Resistance Movement –Organization (NRM-O) on 06th/09/2010 slapped and boxed and shattered Arthur Kintu’s lips at the NRM special organs conference at Namboole stadium in Kira Town Council, Wakiso district.
Kobusheshe dismissed the case and ruled that the DPP may re-instate the matter if he collects enough evidence against Basajjabalaba.
However, Basajjabalaba had never appeared in court to answer to the above charge despite a series of court summons issued to him by Kobusheshe requiring him to appear in court since 09th/September/2010.
Prosecutor Happiness Ayinebyona had earlier asked court to adjourn the case saying the file was still with the DPP Richard Butera but court overruled.
Basajjabalaba’s Lawyer Geoffrey Nangunya asked court to dismiss the case.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) calls upon the DPP to quickly re-instate the case in the interest of justice. “No matter what office Basajjabalaba holds in the ruling party but he should be punished for his wrong deeds. Perpetrators of violence against journalists must be punished to end impunity in the lead-up February 2011 general elections” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo-Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
P.O.Box.71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627
Toll Free Helpline; 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Grade one magistrate Francis Kobusheshe noted that an assault case is not so complex to investigate and wondered what takes the Director of Public Prosecution so long to wind up with his investigations.
Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba the chairman Entrepreneurship league in ruling party National Resistance Movement –Organization (NRM-O) on 06th/09/2010 slapped and boxed and shattered Arthur Kintu’s lips at the NRM special organs conference at Namboole stadium in Kira Town Council, Wakiso district.
Kobusheshe dismissed the case and ruled that the DPP may re-instate the matter if he collects enough evidence against Basajjabalaba.
However, Basajjabalaba had never appeared in court to answer to the above charge despite a series of court summons issued to him by Kobusheshe requiring him to appear in court since 09th/September/2010.
Prosecutor Happiness Ayinebyona had earlier asked court to adjourn the case saying the file was still with the DPP Richard Butera but court overruled.
Basajjabalaba’s Lawyer Geoffrey Nangunya asked court to dismiss the case.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) calls upon the DPP to quickly re-instate the case in the interest of justice. “No matter what office Basajjabalaba holds in the ruling party but he should be punished for his wrong deeds. Perpetrators of violence against journalists must be punished to end impunity in the lead-up February 2011 general elections” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo-Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
P.O.Box.71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627
Toll Free Helpline; 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Friday, October 29, 2010
Voice of Kigezi radio staff instigate violence against New Vision journalist.
Kabale, 29th/Oct/2010; A New Vision reporter, Goodluck Musinguzi has his life threatened following a hate campaign perpetrated by Voice of Kigezi in its morning radio show programme.
The programme under the name ‘Ruhondeza’ meaning to wake-up somebody who is oversleeping in English was aired on 18th/Oct/2010 between 6am-10am modulated by Julius Balusha and Prosy Ainembabazi.
Musinguzi is the Newspaper’s correspondent in Kabale district in South Western part of Uganda.
Voice of Kigezi is a private radio station co-owned by the Chairman of the Ugandan Broadcasting Council, Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi.
The hate campaign was in retaliation to a news story written by Musinguzi in Orumuri- a weekly newspaper in a local dialect and later in the New Vision- a government owned weekly paper, to the effect that two Ugandans had been arrested and detained in Rwanda over unknown but potentially sensitive security matters.
Didas Ndamira an accountant with Voice of Kigezi and Simpson Mpirerwe where reportedly arrested on 19th/Sept/2010, and have since in detention.
Musinguzi told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that since the stories were ran, the managers at Voice of Kigezi convened a closed meeting over the matter because it involved its staff and decided to take action against him for having authored the said stories.
“The following day after their meeting, the radio’s morning show crew took it upon themselves to haul insults at me blaming me for running unfactual and malicious stories against their staff member” Said Musinguzi.
He however says that he only gave their profile in terms of work, involvement in politics and their family background, but he did not include reasons for their arrest and detention.
Musinguzi says that after the radio programme, he started receiving cell phone short messages threatening his live and equating him to a cockroach which needed to be wiped out of society.
One of the messages read, “You’re a big cockroach/enyenze that should be completely wiped out on the face of this earth”. The message was sent to me on 16th/Oct/2010.
Another one was, “You’re just like them ‘cockroaches’ u r a traitor to VOK family. Didas was human like u, be sympathetic to his family at trying moment. Stop peddling lies about the victims in Rwanda.” Both messages came on the same day.
However the radio management denies knowledge of the source of these threatening messages, although admit to having had a progaramme on their radio attacking Musingizi over the stories he wrote in the papers.
“We heard our presenters making these attack live on air against Musinguzi. We cautioned them after the programme. We are also planning to replace them before the 2011 general elections because this was not their first time to attack personalities while on air.” VOK radio manager told HRNJ-Uganda.
HRNJ-Uganda has learnt that the case was reported to Kabale police station and the victim has recorded a statement but nobody has been arrested or summoned for questioning.
However, the area police insist they summoned the presenters in question. “We summoned these suspects but they have never appeared before us.” Said the Officer in Charge of Kabale police station Obongo Deo. He however could not give details of when the summons was issued raising suspicion of the said summons.
HRNJ-Uganda has petitioned the Independent Media Council of Uganda to investigate the matter and take the necessary action. “Media freedoms come with the responsibility of professionalism. All practitioners must follow professional code of ethics during their work. We don’t want to see a situation where someone is killed as a result of media hate campaign. HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
HRNJ-Uganda has had a lengthy discussion with the area police over the urgency of investigating the matter to establish the source of the text messages that threatened violence against Musinguzi. The Police have promised to avail the findings by Monday 1st/Nov/2010.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
Toll Free helpline: 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http//:hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
The programme under the name ‘Ruhondeza’ meaning to wake-up somebody who is oversleeping in English was aired on 18th/Oct/2010 between 6am-10am modulated by Julius Balusha and Prosy Ainembabazi.
Musinguzi is the Newspaper’s correspondent in Kabale district in South Western part of Uganda.
Voice of Kigezi is a private radio station co-owned by the Chairman of the Ugandan Broadcasting Council, Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi.
The hate campaign was in retaliation to a news story written by Musinguzi in Orumuri- a weekly newspaper in a local dialect and later in the New Vision- a government owned weekly paper, to the effect that two Ugandans had been arrested and detained in Rwanda over unknown but potentially sensitive security matters.
Didas Ndamira an accountant with Voice of Kigezi and Simpson Mpirerwe where reportedly arrested on 19th/Sept/2010, and have since in detention.
Musinguzi told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that since the stories were ran, the managers at Voice of Kigezi convened a closed meeting over the matter because it involved its staff and decided to take action against him for having authored the said stories.
“The following day after their meeting, the radio’s morning show crew took it upon themselves to haul insults at me blaming me for running unfactual and malicious stories against their staff member” Said Musinguzi.
He however says that he only gave their profile in terms of work, involvement in politics and their family background, but he did not include reasons for their arrest and detention.
Musinguzi says that after the radio programme, he started receiving cell phone short messages threatening his live and equating him to a cockroach which needed to be wiped out of society.
One of the messages read, “You’re a big cockroach/enyenze that should be completely wiped out on the face of this earth”. The message was sent to me on 16th/Oct/2010.
Another one was, “You’re just like them ‘cockroaches’ u r a traitor to VOK family. Didas was human like u, be sympathetic to his family at trying moment. Stop peddling lies about the victims in Rwanda.” Both messages came on the same day.
However the radio management denies knowledge of the source of these threatening messages, although admit to having had a progaramme on their radio attacking Musingizi over the stories he wrote in the papers.
“We heard our presenters making these attack live on air against Musinguzi. We cautioned them after the programme. We are also planning to replace them before the 2011 general elections because this was not their first time to attack personalities while on air.” VOK radio manager told HRNJ-Uganda.
HRNJ-Uganda has learnt that the case was reported to Kabale police station and the victim has recorded a statement but nobody has been arrested or summoned for questioning.
However, the area police insist they summoned the presenters in question. “We summoned these suspects but they have never appeared before us.” Said the Officer in Charge of Kabale police station Obongo Deo. He however could not give details of when the summons was issued raising suspicion of the said summons.
HRNJ-Uganda has petitioned the Independent Media Council of Uganda to investigate the matter and take the necessary action. “Media freedoms come with the responsibility of professionalism. All practitioners must follow professional code of ethics during their work. We don’t want to see a situation where someone is killed as a result of media hate campaign. HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
HRNJ-Uganda has had a lengthy discussion with the area police over the urgency of investigating the matter to establish the source of the text messages that threatened violence against Musinguzi. The Police have promised to avail the findings by Monday 1st/Nov/2010.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
Toll Free helpline: 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http//:hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Monday, October 25, 2010
HRNJ-Uganda Alert: Two CBS radio stations re-open without a license.
Kampala, 24th/10/20; Two Buganda Kingdom radio stations have been re-opened. The stations include Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) 88.8fm and 89.2fm both housed in Bulange which is the seat of the Buganda Kingdom. It is found in Mengo- a suburb of Kampala, the Capital city of Uganda CBS was switched off air on the 10th/Sept/2009 and had its operating license revoked by the Broadcasting Council.
Sources told HRNJ-Uganda that CBS fm Managing Director Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma was called early morning on Saturday 23th/10/2010 by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ministry and handed over to him the transmitter they had confiscated last September.
The hand over was witnessed by the ICT minister Aggrey Awori, the Broadcasting Council (BC) chairman Godfrey Mutabazi and officials from the Buganda government headed by Mr. Kaaya Kavuma.
However the stations have been re-opened without re-instating their operating licenses. Mutabazi confirmed to HRNJ-Uganda that the re-opened was influenced by the high political tempers in the country ahead of the 2011 general elections.
“The radio was re-opened on political grounds, but its re-opening is not legally binding.” Says the Broadcasting Council chairman Godfrey Mutabazi.
CBS Managing Director Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma has also confirmed this new finding. “The meeting with the ICT ministry cleared the re-opening, but referred us to the Broadcasting Council over our license which was revoked. So we are engaging the broadcasting council from today”.
Mutabazi said the meeting between CBS management and his Broadcasting council would convene soon to agree on the license terms and conditions in a free and fair process to all.
Government had set harsh conditions for the re-opening, including sacking of some employees, transferring the radio from Bulange to an outside place, stopping calling the station the Kabaka’s radio and desists from all anti-government statements, among others.
However the ICT minister Aggrey Awori told CBS officials during a weekend meeting that it was up to the CBS management to sack and retain workers basing on their ability to work professionally.
CBS radio stations are among the five privately owned stations closed on September 10th and 11th 2009 when people loyal to the Kabaka (King), Buganda's monarch, rioted in Kampala over the government's decision to restrict the Kabaka from touring Kayunga district (Bugerere county)one of the 18 counties that make up Buganda kingdom.
The other radios closed included; Radio Two locally known as ‘Akaboozi’, Catholic Church based Radio Sapientia and Ssuubi FM all of which were re-opened without any charges preferred against them despite government’ accusations of inciting violence flouting broadcasting regulations.
However CBS staff went to court protesting against wrongful closure of their radio and rendering them unemployed.
Government also went to the same court accusing CBS of causing the death 27 people during the riots but the counter case was thrown out by court. The hearing of CBS staff case is on-going.
Kavuma told HRNJ-Uganda that the two radios since Saturday 23rd/10/2010 evening re-opened with music and later on Sunday 24th/10/2011 with news as a way of testing the equipments. “The equipments were wrongly removed from the transmitter section. We cannot reinstate all the programmes straight away before ascertaining the capacity of our machines” Kavuma said. Most programmes are likely to resume in a week time from now.
HRNJ-Uganda welcomes the re-opening of the two radios but condemn the political interference in the work of regulatory bodies especially the Broadcasting Council. We call on all Ugandans and the government to embrace the self regulation mechanism. “The media to be meaningful to the people of Uganda and to be able to correct its mistakes must be independent from the state” said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
Toll Free helpline: 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http//:hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Sources told HRNJ-Uganda that CBS fm Managing Director Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma was called early morning on Saturday 23th/10/2010 by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ministry and handed over to him the transmitter they had confiscated last September.
The hand over was witnessed by the ICT minister Aggrey Awori, the Broadcasting Council (BC) chairman Godfrey Mutabazi and officials from the Buganda government headed by Mr. Kaaya Kavuma.
However the stations have been re-opened without re-instating their operating licenses. Mutabazi confirmed to HRNJ-Uganda that the re-opened was influenced by the high political tempers in the country ahead of the 2011 general elections.
“The radio was re-opened on political grounds, but its re-opening is not legally binding.” Says the Broadcasting Council chairman Godfrey Mutabazi.
CBS Managing Director Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma has also confirmed this new finding. “The meeting with the ICT ministry cleared the re-opening, but referred us to the Broadcasting Council over our license which was revoked. So we are engaging the broadcasting council from today”.
Mutabazi said the meeting between CBS management and his Broadcasting council would convene soon to agree on the license terms and conditions in a free and fair process to all.
Government had set harsh conditions for the re-opening, including sacking of some employees, transferring the radio from Bulange to an outside place, stopping calling the station the Kabaka’s radio and desists from all anti-government statements, among others.
However the ICT minister Aggrey Awori told CBS officials during a weekend meeting that it was up to the CBS management to sack and retain workers basing on their ability to work professionally.
CBS radio stations are among the five privately owned stations closed on September 10th and 11th 2009 when people loyal to the Kabaka (King), Buganda's monarch, rioted in Kampala over the government's decision to restrict the Kabaka from touring Kayunga district (Bugerere county)one of the 18 counties that make up Buganda kingdom.
The other radios closed included; Radio Two locally known as ‘Akaboozi’, Catholic Church based Radio Sapientia and Ssuubi FM all of which were re-opened without any charges preferred against them despite government’ accusations of inciting violence flouting broadcasting regulations.
However CBS staff went to court protesting against wrongful closure of their radio and rendering them unemployed.
Government also went to the same court accusing CBS of causing the death 27 people during the riots but the counter case was thrown out by court. The hearing of CBS staff case is on-going.
Kavuma told HRNJ-Uganda that the two radios since Saturday 23rd/10/2010 evening re-opened with music and later on Sunday 24th/10/2011 with news as a way of testing the equipments. “The equipments were wrongly removed from the transmitter section. We cannot reinstate all the programmes straight away before ascertaining the capacity of our machines” Kavuma said. Most programmes are likely to resume in a week time from now.
HRNJ-Uganda welcomes the re-opening of the two radios but condemn the political interference in the work of regulatory bodies especially the Broadcasting Council. We call on all Ugandans and the government to embrace the self regulation mechanism. “The media to be meaningful to the people of Uganda and to be able to correct its mistakes must be independent from the state” said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
Toll Free helpline: 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http//:hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
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