THE Broadcasting Council has suspended Capital Radio presenter Gaetano Kaggwa and programme controller George Manyali for “allowing foul language” in their breakfast show last Wednesday.
The council also wants the men to prove that they are qualified to present the programme. The one-week suspension took effect yesterday.
Council secretary Kagole Kivumbi said in the meantime the council is to establish if the men could have stopped a woman calling herself a lesbian from using “vulgar” language on the show that runs from 8:00am to 10:00am.
According to the council, the woman, Vicky Mukasa, used language that breached broadcasting ethics.
Kivumbi cited the use of four-letter words and the explicit reference to female genitalia. He said this was inappropriate in the morning “when families including children are listening.”
He said the standards must be followed and that the station must have the capacity to stop such language going on air. “The airwaves are a public facility so the public interest should be taken into account.” The council summoned Gaetano and Manyali yesterday.
According to Kivumbi, they did not provide evidence that they are qualified to present the programme.
Consequently, the council, he added, would meet the management to discuss the matter.
If proved that the language was foul, the radio station will be required to apologise to the public and to undertake never to repeat the error, Kivumbi said.
But if the practice persists, other disciplinary measures would be taken, he added.
In a reaction, Gaetano said the management of the radio was behind him. However, proprietor William Pike could not be reached for a comment yesterday.
Gaetano said he was being victimised because the show “was not vulgar” but “a straight forward debate except perhaps for once or twice when the lady was a bit derogatory.”
Vulgar language, he added, has been used in other shows but nothing has happened.
“In the instance that vulgar language was used, that is regrettable.”
