BUNYORO ACTIVISTS TO SUE UCC, RADIOS

By Yosam Gucwaki

In Masindi–

 Bunyoro Kitara Reparations Agency (BUKITAREPA) has reached its final stages to sue the Uganda communications Commission (UCC) and the local radios operating in Bunyoro for stopping BUKITAREPA from appearing to their air waves.

Addressing BUKITAREPA followers at Masindi court premises on Tuesday, Doviko Batwale; the organization chief coordinator explained that they are suing the UCC’s executive director; Godfrey Mutabazi and the radio stations in Bunyoro for denying BUKITAREPA a chance to appear on radios.

He added that they are suing Godfrey Mutabazi as a person for acting as a judge when he wrote letters to all radio stations in Bunyoro region, directing them not to host BUKITAREPA programmes which the radio stations adhered to.

Batwale added that when they go to court they are going to pray that all radio stations in Bunyoro t not that refuse to host BUKITAREPA on their air waves, their licenses be revoked or be transferred to other areas.

Batwale added that in Bunyoro there are only two radio stations which allow BUKITAREPA to appear on their air waves citing Kagadi Broadcasting services (KBS) in Kagadi district and Biiso Radio station in Bulisa district wondering why Kagadi Broadcasting services which is owned by Banabars Tinkasiimire an immigrant would give them air space and the ones owned by the indigenous Banyoro are refusing.  

He added that freedom of expression is a constitutional right noting that it cannot be deterred by Mutabazi explaining that BUKITAREPA is doing public litigation in favor of the indigenous people of Bunyoro.

He added that no one can prove that BUKITAREPA is promoting sectarianism saying that this can be proved unless someone has an order from court. He said this while responding to a question whether they are promoting sectarianism or not.

When contacted Isaac Kalembe the Public relations Officer Uganda Communications Commission for a comment, he said as UCC they have never stopped any one from appearing on the radio stations.

Kalembe added that they only warned the radio stations to maintain the minimum broadcasting standards.

“We don’t want anyone to incite violence or promote sectarianism but to maintain the minimum broadcasting standards”, Kalembe noted.

However, when contacted the station manager Spice FM, Kahwa Mega Andrew, he said that the only thing they were warned of was to stop people who are promoting sectarianism and inciting violence explaining that as Spice they have never come out directly to stop BUKITAREPA from appearing on the air waves.

He added that if they are to host them they have to agree on the terms before allowing them on the air since they also have guidelines they follow.

Source:www.mknewslink.com

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