Uganda: Museveni asks CBS to accept tough terms

After chairing a stormy Cabinet meeting that discussed the re-opening of Buganda’s CBS radio, President Museveni met privately with Buganda elders last Friday and communicated the terms his ministers have pegged to getting the radio back on air.

The elders, mainly former ministers in the Buganda government, were led by Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere (former Katikkiro), Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma (former deputy Katikkiro and CBS Managing Director), John W. Katende (former Attorney General), Jolly Lutaaya (Local Government minister), and Omutaka Grace Ndugwa.

These elders were selected by the CBS board to negotiate the re-opening of the station closed on September 10 following riots that broke out in Kampala and some parts of urban Buganda, resulting in the death of at least 30 people.

The riots broke out after government blocked Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s planned visit to Kayunga, a district in his kingdom.

Consequently, four radio stations including CBS were switched off air, accused of inciting people to riot.
The other three, Akaboozi ku Bbiri, Suubi FM and Sapientia have since been reopened. However, the reopening of CBS has dragged on, with government setting a string of tough pre-conditions.

Museveni told the Kabaka at their September 30 meeting at State House that he needed to discuss the closure of CBS with his Cabinet. A Cabinet committee headed by ICT Minister, Aggrey Awori, was set up to investigate the matter. The Awori committee tabled a report, which Cabinet debated and set conditions for the reopening.

Conditions

Museveni, according to our sources, told the Ssemwogerere-led delegation that he didn’t expect his Cabinet to be as hostile as it turned out to be. He said the Cabinet stance has left him with no option but to accept its conditions.

He pointed out five conditions, which he considers key, including moving CBS studios out of Bulange, Buganda’s administrative building.

He also asked them to withdraw the case filed in the High Court by CBS employees demanding Shs1.4 billion in compensation for loss of employment. He also said the station should delink itself from the Kabaka. People who incited rioters, Museveni told his guests, should all be fired.

If all these conditions are met, Museveni said, the station would be opened in a matter of time. Sources close to the negotiations have told us that Museveni has instructed some lawyers among his ministers, together with ICT Minister, Aggrey Awori, to draft a legal document.

The ministers would then meet the CBS board and communicate the conditions. A member of the CBS board who spoke to the Ssemwogerere delegation has told us that the board would have to study the conditions before making any decision.

“Those who went to see Museveni have told us he was very friendly and behaved like he wanted CBS reopened quickly. Those of us who remained behind don’t believe Museveni is friendly. It is like telling a friend who is facing a death penalty that to forgive you climb a 20-storeyed building and jump down and go away free. The intention is to kill CBS and the board will not accept these conditions,” said a board member.

Cabinet sources are telling us that Museveni is under increasing donor criticism for muzzling the media, and he wants CBS back on air.

“We are moving into campaigns, he doesn’t want to appear like he is fearing to lose and it is the reason he is reopening all the stations,” said a Cabinet minister.

Other sources tell us the tough conditions might be softened, which is the reason a smaller committee of lawyers among ministers was set up.


- January 27, 2010 by The Observer

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Source: www.observer.ug/index.php (accessed on 29.01.2010)