Uganda’s Mixed Fortunes As Another TV Goes On Air

Another local television, Bukedde TV, officially hit the airwaves on 30 October, bringing to eight the number of television stations in Kampala.

The television, the first on the government-owned New Vision Media group list, will be broadcasting in Luganda, the main local language, according to the company’s Chief Executive officer, Robert Kabushenga. He told EAJA their company was looking at creating a multimedia company as a way of improving the delivery of news to all their users.

The television joins WBS, NBS, NTV, LTV, Top TV, Record TV and government-owned Uganda Broadcasting Service on the television airwaves.

The New Vision Group is fast becoming a leading multimedia company. It owns The New Vision and Bukedde daily newspapers, with different Saturday and Sunday editions, Etop, Orumuri and Rupiny (all dailies in local languages), and five radio stations, four of them broadcasting in different local languages. Kabushenga also announced that the company was in advanced stages of starting a short message service– Vision Mobile- where one can be fed with the current news update by just sending an sms to the mobile phone.

 

Serumaga's case referred to constitutional court

(14 October)

But celebration of the arrival of the new TV station in Uganda was soon dampened by news that Uganda's Radio One talk show host Robert Kalundi Serumaga's case was on 14 October referred to the constitution court for interpretation.

Serumaga who spent four days in police custody following the riots that rocked Kampala and central Uganda 11-14 September, claims his rights were abused as he was detained for more than the 48 mandatory hours and wants the constitution court to explain whether the trial is still fair. He was represented by lawyer David Mpanga.

 

Sserumaga is accused by the state of “attacking the person of the president during a television show on September 11 and is facing six counts of sedition.

The Magistrate declined to proceed with the case, pending the hearing and determination of another case by journalist and editor of the Independent Magazine, Andrew Mwenda, who has petitioned the Attorney general. 

 

Mwenda has challenged some sections of the Penal Code Act on sedition, on which Serumaga is being charged and unless the case is resolved, no sedition case can be dispensed of. The magistrate adjourned the case to April 8, 2010.

Kalundi was whisked away by security men (on 11 September 2009) as he stepped out of the WBS television studio, where he had appeared as one of the discussants on the Kibazo show on Friday. The talk show has since been suspended by the Media Council, just like other phone-ins and talk shows.
He was beaten up before being bundled into a car boot and rushed to an unknown destination. In the courts, he appeared before magistrate John Wekesa where he was charged “with intention to bring hatred, contempt and disaffection against the person of the president”.
He was granted cash bail of Uganda Shillings 500,000 (about US$250).

 

Mogadishu Hosts Somali Media Law Review Meeting

(27 October)

Somali media stakeholders including journalists, lawyers, government officials and MPs from central and southern parts of the country gathered at Sahafi Hotel, Mogadishu, on 27 October 2009 to discuss the Somali Media law passed by the parliament on December 8, 2008.

The meeting, which was organized by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) in collaboration with the PRESS NOW, aimed at discussing the Media Law, in which a number of suppressive articles exist, for eventual amendment.

The meeting on the Media Law review was officially opened by the Director-General of the Minister of Information, Mr. Abdirisaq Ali Yusuf “Bahlawi” who spoke both on behalf of the Ministry of Information and the Minister himself.

“Every journalist should know about his own profession. You are required to learn more about the Media Law,” Director Abdirisaq said. Somalia, the most dangerous country in the world for journalists, is currently reeling from a state of insecurity and unbridled impunity. Since January 2009, six journalists have been killed in Somalia in targeted attacks.<>

 

Media in Northern Uganda Take Part in Legal Education

26-30 October)
The media in the Northern Uganda- a region that has gone through civil war for the last two decades joined a group of over 30 legal aid civil service organisations in helping people understand their legal rights. This was during the Legal Aid week in the region.

 

The celebrations to mark the Week 26-30 October, involved a number of radio talk shows and other programmes directed at the best justice model that will be appropriate to the region.

 

The region has suffered trauma, violence and violation of human rights, loss of property, torture, and degrading treatment among others.

 

Media Expo in Uganda

(23-24 October)

Media players held an historic two- (newspapers and magazines), broadcasting (TVs and radio stations), new media (ISPs, LCD media, and website Developers), indoor and day media expo in Kampala, as a way of keeping their users updated and abreast with the growing and changing trends in Uganda. The Expo, held 23-24 October 2009 at Sheraton Hotel, attracted both local and international media groups. It brought together media players ranging from print outdoor media, advertising and PR agencies, who showcased what they do to the entire world.

The expo was also used to create awareness of the existing media organisations and also showcase new products and innovations on offer. It was organised by Royal way Media Ltd as a way of linking the producers and organisers.

 

Kenyan judge sues 3 media houses

A Kenyan judge has sued three media houses after he was acquitted of attempted murder charges. High Court judge G.B.M Kariuki is suing The Nation, The Star and The Standard newspapers for allegedly disparaging his reputation as a judicial officer.
In the suit, the judge is seeking general and exemplary damages plus interest in the cases. He says the stories the newspapers published during his trial injured his reputation and character. He has also named crime and court reporters from the newspapers and their editors in the suits.
The judge had been accused of stabbing Mr Robert Karori on 18 October 2008, but no one gave evidence in court that they saw the actual stabbing.
He was acquitted on 22 October after a Nairobi chief magistrate ruled that there was no evidence to link him to the accusations.<>.

Seychelles: Government Ordered to Pay Compensation to Singer

(16 October)

Allen Ernesta is a prominent Seychellois singer whose lyrics often expose the mismanagement and corruption within the Government in power. After he released one of his CDs entitled ‘ Roul Sa Gros Ros’, which basically translates into “it’s time to remove the Government that has been so long in power”, the authorities ordered that all the copies be removed from circulation. Through that action, Ernesta sustained considerable financial losses. Regar Newspaper wrote about the case on many occasions thereafter. But after more than three years after the incident, the court, on 16 October 2009, delivered a verdict in favour of the singer. He has now been awarded the sum of Seychelles Rupees 61’000 plus interest and cost.

The musician’s case was constantly highlighted in the Regar Newspaper as a case against media freedom and freedom of expression.<>.  

American Media Expert Infuriated by Seychellois’ Nation Report   

(16 October)

In its edition dated Friday 16 October, 2009, the state-owned Seychelles Nation wrote an article entitled “US Expert Hails Media Body Launch”, in an apparent reference to Ellen Hume, an American media expert who was on a working visit to the Indian Ocean country. On the same day in a seminar with journalists representing all media houses in the country, Ms Hume categorically refuted what had been written in the newspaper. According to Ms Hume, what she actually said was that she welcomed the idea of Seychelles having such a commission in the hope that it would foster good media practices in the country. She added that it would be premature of her to “hail” a commission which had not yet been formed since she couldn’t know what its orientation would be and what quality of work it would choose to do. Very annoyed, Ms Hume made reference to that particular article on three occasions.

In an interview with the press following the one day seminar, Ms Hume expressed her belief that the opening up of more radio stations at political and community levels should be encouraged. On the suggestion that such practice could create chaos in the country as had been claimed by some politicians from the ruling party in the past, she said that she didn’t believe in speculating in the outcome of things until they got started.<>.

Uganda’s Broadcasting Council Sets Conditions for Re-opening Closed Radio Stations

 (14 October)

The Uganda Broadcasting Council (UBC) has set minimum requirements including the sacking of all “unprofessional journalists” before the re-opening of the radio stations that were shut down in mid September following riots that rocked the capital Kampala and central Uganda.

 

Uganda is gaining notoriety for always pushing media owners to sack journalists who are critical of the authorities.  

 

The UBC chairman, Godfrey Mutabazi, on October 14 told members of the National Association of Broadcasters of Uganda that minimum requirements have been set, and that the affected radio stations have already been informed.

 

Five radio stations, including two owned by the Buganda Kingdon were shut down during the riots. One of the affected, Catholic-owned Sapientia Radio, was later re-opened.

According to the UBC, besides the radios agreeing to fire “unprofessional journalists”, they also have to put in place a mechanism to regulate all call-in programmes, “stop mixing politics with comedy and stop outside broadcasting service”

 

Meanwhile, employees, advertisers and listeners of the closed Buganda kingdom FM Radio stations have announced plans to sue the government for about US$700,000 loss that they claim to have incurred since the two radio stations were switched off air.

 

In a meeting within the Kingdom Palace, the group agreed to take legal action saying the action by the state had kept over 100 media personnel out of jobs due to the unceremonious closure of two radio stations that belonged to the Buganda Kingdom. The two were closed together with Suubi FM, Akaboozi Ku Bbiri and Sapientia at the height of the riots that erupted within the central region September 11-14 September 2009.<>.

END
 

Tervil OKOKO

Regional Coordinator, Media Freedom, Advocacy and Research

Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA)

B.P 4099, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti

Tel. +254-734-09 32 75

Email: tervil@eaja.org, ttokoko@yahoo.com

General Email: eaja@eaja.org

 

 

- 30 October, 2009 by Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) (monthly update

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Source: www.eaja.org (accessed on 06.11.2009)