By Josephine Maseruka

INFORMATION technology minister Aggrey Awori yesterday said negotiations between the Government and the management of the closed Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio are on going.

He told The New Vision before flying to Addis Ababa for an African Union meeting that his team had met with the CBS managing director and board chairman Kaaya Kavuma twice.
He added that the two parties were to meet again on Tuesday, but because it was the Liberation Day, the meeting was rescheduled to next week.

“We have not come up with concrete terms on the re-opening of the radio. Whatever has been in the newspapers is speculation.”

Awori was commenting on the fate of the negotiations between the Government and CBS managers after the Cabinet terms and conditions on the re-opening of the radio leaked to the media.

CBS was closed in September following riots that rocked the city after the Police barred the Katikkiro J.B. Walusimbi from visiting Kayunga in preparation of the Kabaka’s visit to the area.

The Government accused CBS of inciting violence.

CBS shareholders said they were waiting for an official communication from the Government. They said Kavuma promised to convene a meeting when the Government communicates.

Mengo information and cabinet affairs minister Peter Mayiga said: “If what we hear is true, then it is totally unacceptable.”

Mayiga, who is one of the directors of the radio, argued that it was against the law to force a shareholder to sell his shares. The Buganda kingdom has 51% shares in the radio.

“The Government knows that the problem arose from barring the Kabaka from visiting part of his kingdom and that was not caused by CBS,” he said.

Kabaka Ronald Mutebi appointed a seven–member team to negotiate on behalf of CBS. The team includes Kavuma, Mayiga, CBS general manager Kawooya Mwebe and DP president John Ssebaana Kizito.

The Government has an 11-man team that includes Awori, justice minister Khiddu Makubuya and local government minister Adolf Mwesigye.