Is Ebimeeza ban political?
Jan 14, 2003
UNCERTAINITY still shrouds the future of Ebimeeza talk shows. These are Uganda’s latest grand public debates broadcast live on some FM radio stations.
By Gerald Businge
UNCERTAINITY still shrouds the future of Ebimeeza talk shows. These are Uganda’s latest grand public debates broadcast live on some FM radio stations.
Basoga Nsadhu, Information minister, told a weekly cabinet press briefing January 2 that radio stations can only broadcast the Ebimeeza after getting outside broadcasting licences from the communications commission or “risk facing the law.â€
Basoga whose latest move on the media has drawn extensive criticism says the licences that radio stations are given do not cover outside broadcasting, popularly known as Ebimeeza (round table discussion). He vowed to fully implement the Electronic Media Statute, 1996 that outlines how broadcast stations (radio and television) should operate.
Law veteran, Joe Oloka Onyango once described the Electronic Media Statute as an “anachronistic relic of an entirely different age†given the current technological developments like mobile phones and the Internet. “It is impossible to exercise any real control over the airwaves,†says the Makerere Law don.
The statute is silent on the issue of outside broadcasting with no particular reference to requiring radio stations to get a second licence in order to broadcast Ebimeeza.
“One can argue that the licensing conditions of radio stations do not bar them from outside broadcasting. In a democratic society, the solution to changes in institutions does not lie in banning because such changes are a result of societal needs and interests,†says Dr. Goretti Nassanga, a senior lecturer Makerere’s Mass Communication department in a paper presented at a media convention, in Makerere last year.
Dr. Nassanga says institutional frameworks should be put in place to allow civic journalism (the kind of Ebimeeza) to take root and enable the media to responsibly perform their role of providing a forum for public debate as well as being a market place of ideas.
Basoga allegedly said his decision is a result of prolonged complaints from various government officials that such public discussions pose a security threat since there is no enforceable control over what is said there.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is threatening legal action against minister Basoga over the ban, saying the Broadcasting Council executed ban extends to all external broadcasts from outside the physical confines of the studio including live reports and interviews.
“Following the ban on outside broadcasting, NAB is pursuing both administrative and legal remedies against the Broadcasting Council’s ban on outside broadcasting,†reads a circular to NAB members.
For the last two weeks, three of the Bimeeza talk shows were aired on FM radio stations. Ekimeeza, (the first one to start in February 2001) for Radio One was pre-recorded Saturday at Club Obliggato on Old Portbell road and broadcast hours later.
Mambo Bado (for CBS FM) was held and broadcast at Bulange, Mengo, just outside the Radio station premises. Simbawo Akati (Simba FM) was broadcast as usual on Sunday, but this time not from New Life Bar in Nakulabye. It was in their tiny modern studios in Bukoto where people gathered outside and entered in turns.
Many people are questioning the motive behind Basoga’s latest move on Ebimeeza, especially whether the minister is trying to implement the law or there is a political motive and fear of public debate by the movement government.
But even President Yoweri Museveni has expressed ignorance about the ban on outside broadcasting. While contributing from Gulu on Capital Radio’s Capital Gang talkshow, Museveni said he was going to check whether Cabinet, which he hasn’t attended for sometime, had reached such a decision.
Ofwono Opondo, the director of information at the Movement Secretariat says the secretariat is not party to the decision to ban Ebimeeza since they are a good gauge of public opinion for the government, train people to become better public speakers and air out their views and promote democracy.
“What we need is a law or guidelines to govern the operation of Ebimeeza. If the Radio stations are interested, why don’t they apply like the minister said,†he says.
Muhammad Katende, Uganda Journalists Safety Committee (UJSC) Chairman in a statement criticises the government for banning outside broadcasting and says Basoga’s move is in response to criticism of government excesses and shortcomings through the media.
“Information minister Basoga Nsadhu’s actions are not based on lack of training of media practitioners but to stop criticism of government and ensure government control of the media,†Katende says.
Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, Nakawa Deputy RDC, the veteran radio journalist cum politician, says: “Ebimeeza are benefiting all Ugandans but the opposition is using them to spread lies and decampaign government. Some people are tarnishing other people’s names on these talk shows, promoting hatred and sectarianism. I think journalists and broadcasters need to sit with government and strike a compromise on how Ebimeeza should be run."
Most of the concern from government over the Bimeeza arose late 2002 after people fought at new life bar in Nakulabye during one of the discussion.
Ndebesa Mwambutsya, a History Lecturer at Makerere University also of the Free Movement political group says it is a lame excuse to close down something that benefits hundreds of people because two tipsy people have fought.
“Lt. General Elly Tumwine was involved in a scuffle with Hon. Jacob Oulanya in parliament premises. Do we say we ban parliament because two honourable members fought?†he asks.
“The Minster has expressed concern that most of the people who convene Ebimeeza don’t know or adhere to journalistic principles. Even if professional journalists moderated the discussions, people will say irresponsible things as long as they are allowed to speak freely which is the very essence of Ebimeeza. So to me, this is a deliberate political move by government,†says Anthony Kasaga, a journalist.
Ebimeeza expand what is called the public sphere in communication theory, emanating from the 17th century evolution of coffee houses in Britain and Saloons in France as alternative arenas of discussion of issues of common concern.
Nassanga contends that Ebimeeza are good for Uganda and cannot be in breach of media ethics. “Media ethics are not meant for the large public that takes part in Ebimeeza. Ebimeeza encourage communication channels that allow public participation. They have come in handy to allow for exchange of views between government and the public thus empowering both,†Nassanga says.
She supports a review on the current media laws and controls to bring them todate with the current media environment. “If the current development trend is towards more public participation in the media, then mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that the public participates in a responsible manner,†she says.
Lukens Oziri, an administrative attaché to the Tanzania high Commission says they license broadcasting stations basing on what they want to undertake. “When I left, we didn’t have such public debates which are also aired live on radio. But I’m not aware of restrictions on outside broadcasting,†he says.
Acsill Kiwanuka from the French Embassy’s Audio Visual Department, says once a radio or Television station is licensed in France, it doesn’t matter whether they broadcast from within the studio or outside.
“I wouldn’t say there are such public discussions as Ebimeeza, because there are several radio stations in France. Apart from interviews with individuals, there are other avenues where people come together and share views and these can be aired on any station.â€
Standards in the Electronic Media Statute
A broadcaster or video operator shall ensure:
That any program which is broadcast
a) Is not contrary to public morality
b) Does not promote the culture of violence or ethnical prejudice among the public, especially the children and the youth
c) In case of news, broadcast is free from distortion of facts
d) Is not likely to create public insecurity or violence
e) Is in compliance with the existing law.
The programs that are broadcast are balanced to ensure harmony in such programs
That adult oriented programs are appropriately scheduled
That where a program that is broadcast in respect to a contender for a public office, each contender is given equal time for such a program.
Section 5 -imposes a duty on a proprietor of a broadcast station or producer of a program not to broadcast any thing that is contrary to “public moralityâ€.
Section 7- provides for the granting of broadcasting licences. No reference to outside broadcasting.
Section 8-forbids broadcast of “pornographic mattersâ€, obscene publications and false information.
Constitution on freedom of expression
Art. 29 1 a) “Every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media†(Ugandan constitution).
Art. 43 1) In the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed in this chapter, no person shall prejudice the fundamental or other rights and freedoms of others or the public interest.
2. Public interest under this article shall not permit
a) Political persecution;
b) Detention without trial;
c) Any limitation of the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed by this chapter beyond what is acceptable and acceptably justifiable in a free and democratic society, or what is provided in this constitution.
UNCERTAINITY still shrouds the future of Ebimeeza talk shows. These are Uganda’s latest grand public debates broadcast live on some FM radio stations.
Basoga Nsadhu, Information minister, told a weekly cabinet press briefing January 2 that radio stations can only broadcast the Ebimeeza after getting outside broadcasting licences from the communications commission or “risk facing the law.â€
Basoga whose latest move on the media has drawn extensive criticism says the licences that radio stations are given do not cover outside broadcasting, popularly known as Ebimeeza (round table discussion). He vowed to fully implement the Electronic Media Statute, 1996 that outlines how broadcast stations (radio and television) should operate.
Law veteran, Joe Oloka Onyango once described the Electronic Media Statute as an “anachronistic relic of an entirely different age†given the current technological developments like mobile phones and the Internet. “It is impossible to exercise any real control over the airwaves,†says the Makerere Law don.
The statute is silent on the issue of outside broadcasting with no particular reference to requiring radio stations to get a second licence in order to broadcast Ebimeeza.
“One can argue that the licensing conditions of radio stations do not bar them from outside broadcasting. In a democratic society, the solution to changes in institutions does not lie in banning because such changes are a result of societal needs and interests,†says Dr. Goretti Nassanga, a senior lecturer Makerere’s Mass Communication department in a paper presented at a media convention, in Makerere last year.
Dr. Nassanga says institutional frameworks should be put in place to allow civic journalism (the kind of Ebimeeza) to take root and enable the media to responsibly perform their role of providing a forum for public debate as well as being a market place of ideas.
Basoga allegedly said his decision is a result of prolonged complaints from various government officials that such public discussions pose a security threat since there is no enforceable control over what is said there.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is threatening legal action against minister Basoga over the ban, saying the Broadcasting Council executed ban extends to all external broadcasts from outside the physical confines of the studio including live reports and interviews.
“Following the ban on outside broadcasting, NAB is pursuing both administrative and legal remedies against the Broadcasting Council’s ban on outside broadcasting,†reads a circular to NAB members.
For the last two weeks, three of the Bimeeza talk shows were aired on FM radio stations. Ekimeeza, (the first one to start in February 2001) for Radio One was pre-recorded Saturday at Club Obliggato on Old Portbell road and broadcast hours later.
Mambo Bado (for CBS FM) was held and broadcast at Bulange, Mengo, just outside the Radio station premises. Simbawo Akati (Simba FM) was broadcast as usual on Sunday, but this time not from New Life Bar in Nakulabye. It was in their tiny modern studios in Bukoto where people gathered outside and entered in turns.
Many people are questioning the motive behind Basoga’s latest move on Ebimeeza, especially whether the minister is trying to implement the law or there is a political motive and fear of public debate by the movement government.
But even President Yoweri Museveni has expressed ignorance about the ban on outside broadcasting. While contributing from Gulu on Capital Radio’s Capital Gang talkshow, Museveni said he was going to check whether Cabinet, which he hasn’t attended for sometime, had reached such a decision.
Ofwono Opondo, the director of information at the Movement Secretariat says the secretariat is not party to the decision to ban Ebimeeza since they are a good gauge of public opinion for the government, train people to become better public speakers and air out their views and promote democracy.
“What we need is a law or guidelines to govern the operation of Ebimeeza. If the Radio stations are interested, why don’t they apply like the minister said,†he says.
Muhammad Katende, Uganda Journalists Safety Committee (UJSC) Chairman in a statement criticises the government for banning outside broadcasting and says Basoga’s move is in response to criticism of government excesses and shortcomings through the media.
“Information minister Basoga Nsadhu’s actions are not based on lack of training of media practitioners but to stop criticism of government and ensure government control of the media,†Katende says.
Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, Nakawa Deputy RDC, the veteran radio journalist cum politician, says: “Ebimeeza are benefiting all Ugandans but the opposition is using them to spread lies and decampaign government. Some people are tarnishing other people’s names on these talk shows, promoting hatred and sectarianism. I think journalists and broadcasters need to sit with government and strike a compromise on how Ebimeeza should be run."
Most of the concern from government over the Bimeeza arose late 2002 after people fought at new life bar in Nakulabye during one of the discussion.
Ndebesa Mwambutsya, a History Lecturer at Makerere University also of the Free Movement political group says it is a lame excuse to close down something that benefits hundreds of people because two tipsy people have fought.
“Lt. General Elly Tumwine was involved in a scuffle with Hon. Jacob Oulanya in parliament premises. Do we say we ban parliament because two honourable members fought?†he asks.
“The Minster has expressed concern that most of the people who convene Ebimeeza don’t know or adhere to journalistic principles. Even if professional journalists moderated the discussions, people will say irresponsible things as long as they are allowed to speak freely which is the very essence of Ebimeeza. So to me, this is a deliberate political move by government,†says Anthony Kasaga, a journalist.
Ebimeeza expand what is called the public sphere in communication theory, emanating from the 17th century evolution of coffee houses in Britain and Saloons in France as alternative arenas of discussion of issues of common concern.
Nassanga contends that Ebimeeza are good for Uganda and cannot be in breach of media ethics. “Media ethics are not meant for the large public that takes part in Ebimeeza. Ebimeeza encourage communication channels that allow public participation. They have come in handy to allow for exchange of views between government and the public thus empowering both,†Nassanga says.
She supports a review on the current media laws and controls to bring them todate with the current media environment. “If the current development trend is towards more public participation in the media, then mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that the public participates in a responsible manner,†she says.
Lukens Oziri, an administrative attaché to the Tanzania high Commission says they license broadcasting stations basing on what they want to undertake. “When I left, we didn’t have such public debates which are also aired live on radio. But I’m not aware of restrictions on outside broadcasting,†he says.
Acsill Kiwanuka from the French Embassy’s Audio Visual Department, says once a radio or Television station is licensed in France, it doesn’t matter whether they broadcast from within the studio or outside.
“I wouldn’t say there are such public discussions as Ebimeeza, because there are several radio stations in France. Apart from interviews with individuals, there are other avenues where people come together and share views and these can be aired on any station.â€
Standards in the Electronic Media Statute
A broadcaster or video operator shall ensure:
a) Is not contrary to public morality
b) Does not promote the culture of violence or ethnical prejudice among the public, especially the children and the youth
c) In case of news, broadcast is free from distortion of facts
d) Is not likely to create public insecurity or violence
e) Is in compliance with the existing law.
Section 5 -imposes a duty on a proprietor of a broadcast station or producer of a program not to broadcast any thing that is contrary to “public moralityâ€.
Section 7- provides for the granting of broadcasting licences. No reference to outside broadcasting.
Section 8-forbids broadcast of “pornographic mattersâ€, obscene publications and false information.
Constitution on freedom of expression
Art. 29 1 a) “Every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media†(Ugandan constitution).
Art. 43 1) In the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed in this chapter, no person shall prejudice the fundamental or other rights and freedoms of others or the public interest.
2. Public interest under this article shall not permit
a) Political persecution;
b) Detention without trial;
c) Any limitation of the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed by this chapter beyond what is acceptable and acceptably justifiable in a free and democratic society, or what is provided in this constitution.