Uganda
Media charged with inciting riotsPosted Sep 23 2009
The Ugandan government suspended four radio stations last week following an outbreak of violent protests in Kampala. The privately owned Suubi FM, Radio Sapienta and Radio Two Akaboozi Kubiri stations as well as Central Broadcasting Service (CBS), a network owned by the Kingdom of Buganda, one of Uganda’s traditional kingdoms, were charged with inciting the riots.
The country’s Broadcasting Council also withdrew CBS’ license and banned live radio debate programs called “ebimeeza” on the grounds that the radio stations were unable to control their content, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The riots that prompted the gag order erupted after security officials warned King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II of the Baganda, the majority ethnic group in the capital, to cancel his visit to Kayunga, a northeastern district in the city. They urged Mutebi to first negotiate with the Banyala, the area’s dominant force, because they were unhappy about recent remarks he had made about them. In addition, the Buganda Prime Minister visit was blocked, and rumors spread that he had been arrested. When the government failed to thoroughly explain the situation, Baganda legislators walked out of parliament, and Baganda youth began blocking streets with bonfires and the violence spread.
Kalundi Sserumaga, host of Radio One’s talk show Spectrum, was abducted outside WBS Television at around 11 p.m. Thursday after criticizing President Yoweri Museveni in a televised debate. Allegations circulated that he was transferred to the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task (JATT), an intelligence branch that Human Rights Watch accused earlier this year of using torture. However, police told Daily Monitor that he is at Central Police Station and will be taken to court when the investigations are finished. Sserumaga says he has been tortured. He was admitted to a hospital Sunday for treatment of injuries he received during and after his arrest.
Sserumaga faces sedition and incitement to violence charges, which could translate to three years in jail upon conviction. Over the weekend Joshua Kyalimpa, chairman of Uganda Journalists Association, told Daily Monitor that police Inspector General Kayihura would meet journalists at the Uganda Media Center Monday to discuss the deteriorating relationship between journalists and the police.
More information
- Reporters Without Borders
- Daily Monitor
- International Press Institute