IGP orders probe into operatives, Kyagulanyi saga at Spice FM

POLICE|IGP|KYAGULANYI

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola has ordered the investigation into reports that Robert Kyagulanyi was bounced off Spice FM on Thursday (November 26, 2020), during his talk show.

Kyagulanyi, protested that he had been bounced off Spice FM in Hoima, after having paid for the show, had it scheduled, and had even gone on air, when army and police operatives kicked him out.

In a tweet this afternoon, Kyagulanyi noted, "We paid to appear on Spice FM Radio in Hoima. As soon as I got to the radio this morning, the military and police raided it and ordered the host to immediately stop the talk-show! As these violations go on, the Electoral Commission looks on."

As a result, the Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga, during a briefing on the Uganda Media Centre on Friday afternoon, said, "The Inspector General of Police has already directed the Director CIID and the Director of Operations get to work with Uganda Communications Commission and the Media Council to establish if there is a formal complaint from Spice FM which should be a basis for investigations to establish whether it was security personnel who caused the disruptions there or otherwise." 

However, save for the investigations, Enanga explained that Kyagulanyi has hijacked time meant for Patrick Amuriat; contrary to what the Talk Show host Fred Byenkya told ‘New Vision'. 

Enanga, in defending what the operatives had done said, "He (Kyagulanyi) had been booked on November 25, from 8 pm to 9 pm. He delayed in Kagadi and arrived in Hoima Town at around 5:30 pm to 5:40 pm. After reaching Hoima Town, he tried to proceed to Kyentare Primary School which is six Kilometers away and this consumed much of his time. By the time he returned to Hoima, his scheduled time of 8 pm to 9 pm has passed at Spice FM. That was his final day of campaigns in Hoima. It required that his programme be rescheduled, with harmonisation with the returning officer as well as security which was not done. So yesterday (On the next day) he wanted to use the same time. But unfortunately, this was the same time that had been booked by the FDC's Patrick Amuriat and so he was not allowed."

However, on the day Kyagulanyi was bounced off the station, Byenkya in a phone interview told New Vision, "We know that Kyagulanyi had paid for his Show and we were already on air, when security operatives told us to stop to prematurely end. We do not know why this happened." 

The incident happed, during Kyagulanyi's second day on campaigns in Bunyoro sub-region as he scouts for votes ahead of the Presidential elections in January 2021. 

Every candidate is expected to use means like radios and television stations, as a way of limiting the crowing of people. 

This is part of what the Electoral Commission considers as the scientific campaigns.