Sanyu FM's Chief Operating Manager Mugamba fired over strike

Sanyu FM, the country's oldest FM station has fired its Chief Operating Manager/Programmes Director, Betsy Mugamba for allegedly inciting employees to strike over a 25% pay cut.

Mugamba was sacked after an audio leaked in which she was reportedly asking her staff to reject the paycut and lay down their tools.

Last June, several employees including veteran radio presenter James Onen alias Fatboy laid down their tools protesting the pay cut that was brought about by the effects of COVID-19 on most businesses. Fatboy and his colleagues were fired by the radio station owned by businessman Sudhir Ruparelia. FatBoy was replaced by comedian Salvador Idringi as the host of the popular breakfast show.

"This is to inform you that we have terminated your employment with Sanyu FM after our investigations revealed that you incited other employees to stage a sit down strike after management had proposed a 25% pay Ruparelia Group Company chairman Sudhir said in a letter.

Sanyu FM is the pioneer private FM radio station in East and Central Africa, has been in existence for over 20-years.

It went on air in 1993, and for the first time, Ugandans could listen to music almost the whole day away from the government-run Radio Uganda, which had only about 20% of its programs dedicated to music, and the rest on ‘developmental' programs.