Regulator directed 13 media organisations to suspend 39 journalists after coverage of politician taken to prison.
Media groups are challenging a decision by the country’s communications regulator to remove dozens of senior journalists from their news management roles over coverage of music star turned politician Bobi Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on April 30 directed 13 media organisations to suspend 39 producers, editors and heads of news, and submit all news and live-streamed content aired the day before.
“On that day, Honorable Kyagulanyi was arrested, charged and taken to Luzira prison and media houses got those problems because of covering that,” said Charles James Ssenkubuge, one of the journalists suspended by the directive.
He is the general manager of Salt Media in Kampala and until May 1 was also its head of programmes. Initially, he was suspended from work for a week but following a meeting between broadcasting executives and UCC, he was recalled as general manager but not as head of programmes.
The UCC said the 39 journalists have to step aside for 30 days as it investigates them for a possible breach of broadcasting standards. But its critics say the directive is only the latest in a pattern of using its regulatory powers in political service to President Yoweri Museveni’s 33-year-old
regime.
“This isn’t the first time. There are so many journalists and stations that are regularly under threat from these directives that aren’t even always written,” said Peter Mwesige, a media scholar and executive director of the African Centre for Media Excellence in Kampala.
“They have become quite clever at leaving no tracks. You just see your licence not renewed or know your station was switched off air at a particular time.”
