“We shall only focus on lifestyle and entertainment content throughout our broadcasts,” one of the sources at the Broadcasting Council told the Uganda Journalist Union, an EAJA affiliate.
The edict is a continuation of a series of actions the Uganda government has lately adopted to clampdown on media freedom.
Also, the Council said it would regulate content in a selected group of FM radio stations. Among the stations affected in this move is Beat FM and Capital radio, which have been ordered to review the content they have been putting on air. According to the Council, most of the content has been inciting and may inflame public sentiments.
The privately-owned stations have been ordered to stop airing anything relating to Buganda, the Buganda Kingdom and the institution of the king Kabaka – unless as positive stories run to enhance the relationship between the Central Government and the Buganda Kingdom, and which does not incite the public into violence.
The Beat FM has been ordered to stop all talk shows and promos that are in support of Buganda and the Buganda Football Tournament finals due on 3 October 2009.
They have also been ordered to stop airing songs in praise of Buganda, mostly those eulogizing the Kabaka and his lineage.
Background
On 10-12, riots rocked central Uganda following a protest which saw King Kabaka blocked from traveling to visit Banyala county, which he claims is part of his territory. Four radio stations were banned, a journalist was detained and later charged in court with sedition, and seven journalists were hurt in the aftermath of the riots.
Tervil Okoko
Regional Co-ordinator, Media Freedom, Advocacy and Research
Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA)
B.P 4099, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
Tel. +254-734 09 32 75
E-mail: tervil@eaja.org, ttokoko@yahoo.com
eaja@eaja.org
