{UAH} Radios in trouble over Lukwago

Radios in trouble over Lukwago

News

TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2013 23:10

WRITTEN BY SADAB KITATTA KAAYA

14 COMMENTS

Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago

The move to remove Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has not spared the media, with two radio stations now warned against hosting Lukwago and other "negative elements that tarnish the image of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)."

According to a November 5 letter from Kampala Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, the radio stations are barred from hosting opposition politicians who speak against KCCA and the government.

"This is to inform you that I have noted that Akaboozi and Radio [One] are increasingly being used to deliberately tarnish the image of government, KCCA and to frustrate government programmes," Hashaka's letter reads in part.

The letter came a day after Akaboozi had hosted Lukwago on its Kalasa mayanzi (mid-morning) on Friday over matters at KCCA. Displeased with Lukwago's utterances, Hashaka penned the letter, literally setting for them conditions for hosting any opposition figure.

"If you must host a person tarnishing the image of government or KCCA, you should at least co-host somebody to diffuse the lies or give equal [opportunity] to KCCA and government [officials] to say the truth and protect the image of government," Hashaka wrote.

The letter is copied to the principal private secretary to the president, minister for the Presidency and Kampala, secretary to the office of the president, KCCA executive director and all deputy RCCs. Interviewed for this story, the administrator of the two radio stations, Jeff Mulinde Kiwanuka, feigned ignorance of the letter.

"I have not seen it and know nothing about it because it never came to me. I'm going to ask my colleagues and find out whether it is there, but if it came, they should have at least informed me," Kiwanuka said on Monday.

But a fellow manager at the media outlet confirmed to us that they had indeed received the letter but declined to speak further about it. On receipt of the letter, management reportedly contacted Hashaka, before also reviewing the contested talk show. But before management could respond, the station again hosted Lukwago on Monday, ahead of his failed rally at Nakivubo Settlement primary school.

The Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) condemned Hashaka for the letter. HRNJ demanded, in a statement, that Hashaka apologize to Basajja Mivule, the radio management and the entire media fraternity or risk a blackout.

"The argument by [Hashaka] that the two radio stations host negative elements including members of the opposition is a deep imperfection on his part. Recognizing the political opposition is legal and all those who belong to it are at liberty to use the media like those in the support of the ruling party," said Robert Ssempala, HRNJ-Uganda's national coordinator.

Ssempala appealed to media managers not to yield to this kind of pressure and intimidation but continue to offer a fair platform to differing views and opinion.

Hashaka counters

However, when contacted, Hashaka rejected any suggestion by HRNJ that he was out to gag Lukwago or anyone in the opposition. Instead he said that he was moved to write, after noting for six months, that Radio One and Akaboozi, 
"They have been hosting people from one area of contention, especially from the opposition and they don't balance the shows," Hashaka said today. "I have no problem with [them] hosting the opposition, but at least co-host someone from the government."

Hashaka added that before writing to Radio One/Akaboozi, he had verbally raised the matter with the managers to no avail.

"I advised them that if you don't get anyone [from government] I'm available."

But when asked for a comment on the matter, the producer of Kalasa Mayanzi programme, Jude Bukenya, said Hashaka was wading into deep waters.

"These matters are beyond him. We can never have a fully balance programme, because government proponents are not proactive. Many times we have people here and there is no one from the government willing to respond."

Bukenya added that Hashaka had exhibited double standards in his complaints.

"Many times we have hosted [Jennifer] Musisi here and she has talked on air – sometimes blasting Lukwago, and there have been no phone calls complaining about the show," he added.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower