Ugandan media under siege

Gerald Bareebe
Kampala

The media and freedom of expression has suffered heavily since riots broke up in Kampala three weeks back. Beyond the official closure of radio stations and suspension of some radio presenters announced by the Broadcasting Council, individual media houses have taken radical steps to gag themselves in a bid to appease authorities and keep their businesses running.

Some of the actions are reportedly out of subtle pressure from the government and specifically the Broadcasting Council while others are self-generated in an environment of general fear and the need to play safe.

In one case, Inside Politics has obtained an internal memo of the more prominent broadcasting houses with a local language and English language stations where presenters have been told that, “all content relating to Buganda - the Buganda Kingdom and the institution of the Kabaka - will not be aired on both stations, unless as positive stories run in the New Vision or Bukedde newspapers covered in our press review”. Bukedde and New Vision are part of the publicly-traded but state-controlled print and electronic media group.

The memo was issued by the programmes director of the two stations following a meeting with the Broadcasting Council. The memo further says “ Stop all talk and promos in support of Buganda Certificates; Stop all talk and promos in support of the Buganda Football Tournament Cup finals, Amasaza Cup, this Saturday and stop all songs about Buganda and in some cases those about Buganda’s quest for federo or those eulogising the Kabaka and Sekabakas”. This is as far reaching as a total blackout, especially for the Buganda language stations, whose constituency is mainly attuned to Mengo -- the cultural centre of the Baganda.

After the explosion of violence between September 10-12, the government shut down four radio stations just within two days of the unrest.
According to Godfrey Mutabazi, the chairperson of Broadcast Council, the decision to close the radios was taken to prevent “genocide” in Uganda as they had been “turned into conduits for inter-tribal hate messages.”
CBS’s channels, 88.8 and 89.2 were switched off at around 1600hrs on September 10. The same week on Friday, three more stations – Akaboozi Ku Biri, Suubi FM and Radio Saptienta – were shut down in an intensifying clampdown on reporting about the bloody battles.

Broadcasting Council agents backed by soldiers raided the studios of Radio Sapienta, a Catholic Church-run station, according to its director, Sister Denis Samanya. The station had aired a morning talkshow during which callers reacted to Thursday’s deadly riots, she said.

A similar raid took place at Radio Two, a local language station popularly known as “Akaboozi”, according to General Manager Maria Kiwanuka. Both Samanya and Kiwanuka said they had not received notice of any breach before the closures.

Suubi FM, a commercial, youth-oriented station also mainly broadcasting in Luganda, was also forced off the air after a raid by soldiers and Council technicians, according to Managing Director Ahmed Bogere Masembe. The station later received a notice from Mutabazi accusing it of “inciting the public to violence,” he said. Masembe says his initial reaction was that his station had been mixed up with another for he saw no breach.

After dealing with the media houses which are to suffer the biggest price of license revocation as in the case of CBS and suspension of the license as in the case ofr Akaboozi, Sapientia and Suubi (Sapientia has since been reopened), focus was tuned on the presenters and talkshow hosts.

The latest victim is government-owned Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) television manager, Mr Mark Walungama, who was fired this week for allegedly allowing pictures of the recent city riots to air on a national broadcaster.

Mr Walunguma, 44, is accused of sanctioning “nasty” pictures where armed security personal were shown clobbering rioters in the city streets. Though the managers denies this was the reason.

Journalist Charles Odongtho, also working for another overnment-controlled outlet, Vision Voice, a member of the Vision Group, was fired through a friendly sms sent by his producer. Mr Odongtho, who previously worked with Radio Paidha before joining Uganda Radio Network and Vision Voice as News Editor and host of two talkshows on the same station, says he never received any formal communication.

Mr Odongtho, who has been hosting Vision Parliament on Monday and Press Chat on Wednesdays received a message that simply said; “we are changing you from your shows, another person will be hosting them; we are sorry for losing you.”

The most prominent journalism victim remains talksshow host, Kalundi Sserumaga, who was abducted on the night of September 11, tortured and only transferred to police from secret detention the next day into a police cell. He was released on bail on September 15. Six counts of sedition were read for him at Buganda Road Court.

Several other media victims have not grabbed headlines and these include Peter Kibazo (WBS), Charles Ssenkubuge Siasa (Radio Simba), and Radio Sapienta journalists; Matovu Aloysius, Irene Kiseka and Ben Mutebi – Amayengo.

UBC publicists and the Broadcasting Council’s Mutabazi have denied that Mr Walunguma was fired because of the images he allowed to be broadcast on UBC TV. “I thought his dismissal had much to do with financial misappropriation than his professional conduct,” Mr Mutabazi said. At Vision Voice, Radio manager Bill Tibingana had warned show hosts not to discuss the riots days before Mr Odongtho was fired, sources said.

Inside Politics can reveal that WBS television was asked to suspend broadcast of the syndicated Voice of America live TV and Radio show, Straight Talk Africa. The popular show, hosted by celebrated Ugandan-born journalist Shaka Ssali, hosted two successive shows on Uganda after the riots. One of the shows featured Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Prof. Ogenga Latigo and Supreme Court judge George Wilson Kanyeihamba. Sources at both the Broadcasting Council, WBS and VOA have told Inside Politics that the Council first asked for a recording of one of the shows before quietly advising suspension as a review was being done.

Inside Politics understands that an official at WBS communicated the developments to Washington DC, the headquarters of VOA which communication has sparked a diplomatic frenzy over the intentions of the State. These reports could not be independently verified.

While exact details of the actual negotiations between President Museveni and Kabaka Mutebi have remained a closely guarded secret following their Wednesday meeting, the Kabaka’s push for the reopening of CBS has come out clearly as a major point of negotiations. The kingdom’s deputy Minister for Information Medard Ssegona Lubega confirmed to Inside Politics that it was a key issue. Like the Kabaka, several owners of the closed stations are opting for quiet negotiations mainly to save their businesses.

A source at Radio One has told Inside Politics that the station owners have been told that “the fate of Radio Two will depend on how Radio One behaves.” This has resulted in more self-censorship. And for the affected media personalities, they are waiting to see how this goes - helpless to pursue justice on their own without the backing of their employers.

With the only nationwide-reaching network of radio and TV through UBC TV and radio and several channels affiliated to the two, especially radio coupled with the Vision Group with at least five newspaper titles, and a growing broadcast wing with at least three FM stations so far and holding a licensed but still off air TV, government controls more than 60 percent of the broadcasting space in the country. A majority of private FM stations are also owned directly by government officials or business people who support the ruling party. Observers say that attacking the private media therefore is an effort to close the little space available for alternative views.

It is with this in mind that the political Opposition led by the Forum for Democratic Change called for the opening of the closed stations, failing which they called for a boycott of State-run media.

Following the government’s liberalisation of the air waves in 1990, many private media houses were set up. Today, Uganda has more than 150 FM stations, 10 newspapers and 20 television stations. This growth prompted the government to set up Uganda Broadcasting Council with the stated objective of promoting the growth of a responsible and free press that adheres to the highest standards of journalism.

Media experts, however, have noted that the growth has not necessarily led to the championing of free speech and expression that is imperative ifjournalists are to carry out their watchdog role on behalf of society. The government stands accused of using the Broadcasting Council to clamp down on independent and critical voices.

According to Mr John Baptist Wasswa, a media consultant and a mass communication lecturer at Makerere University, even fine journalists have increasingly found themselves in a difficult situation as the political system manipulates the media. “The daily press no longer, routinely, set the agenda for change, breaks stories, exposes or make serious political investigations,” Mr Wasswa said.

The Broadcasting Council is set to introduce fresh guidelines to broadcast media regarding reporting on issues touching on Buganda Kingdom and the government. Inside Politics has learnt that the Council is now inviting different radio stations to a meeting where new rules are to be issued. Some radio proprietors have been warned that they risk their licenses being revoked if they fail to comply.

Mr Mutabazi told Inside Politics that all radio stations have been ordered to instal equipment which allows in-studio presenters to listen to phone call before onward broadcast. “We want to control people who call in and start spreading hate messages,” Mr Mutabazi said. “All radio stations are supposed to employ these equipments or else they will have their licenses revoked.”

Prof. Fredrick Jjuuko of Makerere University’s Faculty of Law says much as the media laws in place do not give enough freedom to the media, journalists have been passive in fighting for their rights. “The law emphasises economic rights and property ownership for businessesmen to invest in the media and instead suppresses the political civil content of the media,” Prof. Jjuuko argued at a media dialogue on Monday. According to him, much as the media in Uganda is growing, the government suppression of dissent is growing just as fast. As a result several journalists find themselves in court on all manner of charges.

Four journalists from Monitor Publications stand accused of criminally defaming the [former] IGG, Justice Faith Mwondha, through articles: IGG in salary scandal (Sunday Monitor, 19, 2007 and God’s Warrior’ Faith Mwondha stumbles.

Rrecently three other Monitor journalists, managing editor Daniel Kalinaki and senior reporters Angelo Izama and Grace Matsiko have been grilled by the Police over information contained in an article, which ran in the Daily Monitor of December 28, 2008, under the title, Reclusive Kony: UPDF’s tactics under spotlight. The government claims the information was prejudicial to national security.

Mr Kalinaki and Sunday Monitor editor, Henry Ochieng are also in court on alleged charges of forgery and uttering a false document.
This narrowing of the avenues for mas communicatio have greatly impacted the capacity of the Opposition to mobilise. In one incident, Dr Kizza Besigye, the FDC leader, was barred from appearing on a talkshow hosted by the Kitgum-based Kitti FM. The radio’s generator was switched off, reportedly on the orders of the area RDC.

Another popular talk show programme, Tonight with Tegulle on UBC was also suspended for allegedly hosting Dr Besigye. This high level of State interference in the activities of the media can only be a prelude for even darker days ahead as the country draws closer o the 2011 general elections. It is understood that the ruling establishment will more than ever before seek to control the news to its advantage ahead of, and during, the polls.

This state of affairs is unlike the vibrant media industry in Kenya that has rallied the public and forced the government to reconsider its position in passing a bad electronic media law that would have allowed government functionaries to raid media houses and studios to confiscate media equipment.

According to the 2006 Global Press Report by Reporters without Borders, Tanzania is the region’s best-rated country in terms of press freedoms.
Uganda dropped from 80th to 116th position on the index. Kenya is at 118 among the 168 countries evaluated. The director of the American Centre for International Labour Solidarity, Mr Richard Hall, has said America is on the alert over the increasing violation of media freedoms in Uganda.

The Secretary General of the Eastern Africa Journalists Association, Mr Farouk Omar Osman, has said the country’s future may worsen if the government does not address key issues facing journalists. “It is sad that the government has preferred charges against journalists here in Uganda. This is intimidation and we cannot accept it. Let us collect and disseminate information on what is happening to the rest of the world,” he said. “The crackdown on the media is everywhere but we have to show solidarity and ensure we address these gross violations of the freedom of the media,” he added.
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