Writes Leo Odera Omolo
President Yoweri Museveni has set tough conditions requiring the shut down Central Broadcasting Service {CBS}, the Buganda kingdom mouthpiece station to apologize before it could be allowed to reopen
CBS was shut down by the Broadcasting Council of Uganda on September 11,2009 shortly after violent riots erupted in parts of the Buganda kingdom and the capital city, Kampala over what the government termed as “sectarianism and promoting communal hatred”.
The state-owned NEWVISION reported this morning that President Museveni while on his two days tour to promote “Prosperity for All Programme in Mpigi district disclosed that the issue was discussed exhaustively during the cabinet meeting last week’.
The President told a well attended public rally held at Mpenja in Gomba that they put conditions for the reopening of the CBS. Because the government was tired of the radio presenters bad manners “especially that of telling lies to the public”.
“CBS had gone off track and I was starting to wonder why the Kabaka [King} of Buganda had allowed ill-mannered people to penetrate the Radio Station. The government is going to give conditions for its re-opening and it is the choice of the radio administrators to put them into consideration.”
According to the paper, Museveni was responding to the area MP Rosemary Najjembe, who had said her constituents had kept demanding for the reopening of the CBS radio station.
Museveni said, “I will order the reopening of CBS only after when Mengo implements the conditions given by the government.”
The cabinet last week asked for an apology and wants CBS employees to drop all litigation court proceedings they had filed against the government..
Other conditions are the relocation of the CBS Studio from Bulange, the seat of the Buganda kingdom and adherence to the broadcasting standards, including purging and vetting of radio programmes that incite violence and disorder as well as lawlessness.
President Museveni admitted that it was he who ordered the closure of the CBS station because it was abusive and sowing the seeds of discord as well as promoting hatred.
The President stressed that it was wrong for the Kabaka to allow the presenters of the radio station to abuse and undermine the government.”If I, the President can sieve what I say, why can’t a mere radio station?”
‘Do you want me to hit back and abuse the Kabaka? he asked but the crowd roared back with the no answer.
President Museveni, however, assured the people that a solution would be found and urged the residents of the region to be more focus their attention on more pressing issues such as paying school fees for their children, adding that the was pleased with the performance of UPE schools in the recently announced results of PLE exams,
During the riots that also witnessed the massive looting destruction of property of unknown value in Kampala City, the government announced that 26 people had perished .Most of the dead had succumbed to gun shots wounds, Inflicted by anti-riot police and other security agencies. But privately the number of those who died was said to have been much higher as to be close to 100.More than 500 were hospitalized while over 800 were arrested and later charged with various offences related to terrorism.
Scores of radio presenters were also rounded up and arraigned in courts for broadcasting sedition programmes. Several other FM vernacular stations were also closed in the security clamp down that followed .But some of them have since reopened except CBS.
Ends.