Govt appoints committee on CBS

Dec 05, 2009

THE Government has named a cabinet committee to carry out consultations on possible re-opening of Buganda Kingdom’s radio station, Central Broadcasting Services (CBS).

By Henry Mukasa

THE Government has named a cabinet committee to carry out consultations on possible re-opening of Buganda Kingdom’s radio station, Central Broadcasting Services (CBS).

The committee chaired by ICT minister Aggrey Awori, yesterday held a meeting with the CBS management team, according to a statement issued by Information minister, Kabakumba Masiko.

The committee includes five cabinet ministers namely Awori, Kabakumba, Kiddu Makubuya (Attorney General), Namirembe Bitamazire (Education and Sports) and Janat Mukwaya (General Duties). Also on the team are state ministers James Baba (Vice President’s office), Nyombi Thembo (Luwero Triangle), Ruth Nankabirwa (Microfinance) and Sulaiman Madada (elderly and disability Affairs). Senior Presidential Advisor Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, popularly known as Salim Saleh, is the 10th member of the committee.

“The Committee is slated to hold a series of meetings with the proprietors and managers of CBS as well as other stakeholders and report to Cabinet,” Kabakumba’s statement issued on yesterday evening said.

The CBS team in yesterday’s meeting included Kaaya Kavuma (managing director), Charles Peter Mayiga (Director), Kaddu Kiberu (Director), Joseph Magala Nyago (Director), Mustafa Mutyaba (Director), John Sebana Kizito (Director) and Michael Kawooya Mwebe, the General Manager.

Two stations owned by CBS a.k.a Radio Buganda were closed down by the Uganda Broadcasting Council (UBC) along with three other stations, Akaboozi, Sapientia and Suubi FM, during the September riots.

The riots broke out on September 10 after the Government refused the Kabaka from visiting Kyunga district. The Government accused the stations of promoting sectarianism and inciting violence.

President Yoweri Museveni told a special sitting of Parliament four days later that CBS radio was specifically closed because it meddled in politics, spread sectarianism, lawlessness and violence with impunity, yet it is owned by a traditional institution.

He said the radio had tried to intimidate Buganda’s political class “not to think freely”.

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