Broadcasters want radio stations opened
Oct 19, 2009
THE National Association of Broadcasters has asked the Government to open the radio stations which were closed following the recent riots.
By Anne Mugisa
THE National Association of Broadcasters has asked the Government to open the radio stations which were closed following the recent riots.
The chairperson of the broadcasting council, Godfrey Mutabaazi, said the stations would be re-opened when their proprietors make commitments not to breach the law and stick to what they are licensed to do.
Mutabaazi said the broadcasters had engaged in inciting the public, thereby threatening national security.
This was at the council’s general meeting held at Kati Kati Restaurant in Kampala last week.
National broadcasters chief Capt. Francis Babu said the problems that led to the closure could be rectified.
Mutabaazi said some people called the closure bad for freedom of expression without considering the deaths which resulted from the abused freedom.
Only Radio Sapientia was re-opened on September 16, while Central Broadcasting Services (CBS), Suubi FM and Radio Two (Akaboozi ku bbiri) remain closed. He denied reports of banning the airing of programmes regarding the Kabaka of Buganda.
Super FM proprietor Peter Ssematimba said there were reports that the Government intended to give the rights to allocate signals to the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), saying it would be unfair to other stations it competes with.
However, Mutabazi said it is not UBC that would control the signal, but an independent company that will be created.
THE National Association of Broadcasters has asked the Government to open the radio stations which were closed following the recent riots.
The chairperson of the broadcasting council, Godfrey Mutabaazi, said the stations would be re-opened when their proprietors make commitments not to breach the law and stick to what they are licensed to do.
Mutabaazi said the broadcasters had engaged in inciting the public, thereby threatening national security.
This was at the council’s general meeting held at Kati Kati Restaurant in Kampala last week.
National broadcasters chief Capt. Francis Babu said the problems that led to the closure could be rectified.
Mutabaazi said some people called the closure bad for freedom of expression without considering the deaths which resulted from the abused freedom.
Only Radio Sapientia was re-opened on September 16, while Central Broadcasting Services (CBS), Suubi FM and Radio Two (Akaboozi ku bbiri) remain closed. He denied reports of banning the airing of programmes regarding the Kabaka of Buganda.
Super FM proprietor Peter Ssematimba said there were reports that the Government intended to give the rights to allocate signals to the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), saying it would be unfair to other stations it competes with.
However, Mutabazi said it is not UBC that would control the signal, but an independent company that will be created.