CBS Could Reopen?: State House Privately Meets with Presenters
CBS presenters held a secret meeting at State House.
David Tash Lumu reported for the Observer today that strong actors within government leadership are pushing for the reopening of CBS, due to fear that closure of the radio might harm the NRM’s chances in the upcoming election.
CBS and three other radio stations were taken off the air after the September riots, accused of inciting violence, and CBS is the only one still switched off. Akaboozi, Sapientia, and Suubi FM have begun broadcasting since then.
Lumu reports that support for CBS seems to be coming from President Museveni’s principal private secretary, Amelia Kyambadde, who is standing for election in Mawokota North, but even from State House spokesperson Tamale Mirundi, who has changed his tone when talking on the radio about CBS.
The Daily Monitor also reported that President Museveni has begun publicly blaming his ministers for keeping CBS closed. Robert Mwanje and Tabu Butagira write that:
“Some cabinet ministers have been opposing the re-opening of CBS [but] I will handle that,” Mr Museveni is quoted to have told five employees of the closed radio during a secret meeting last week. The President did not name the ministers.”
Kyambadde organized the meeting for CBS presenters at State House with President Museveni, but excluded Mengo officials and CBS management.
In a Daily Monitor editorial on radio censorship, Daniel Kalinaki wrote on April 29th: “Once a proud and powerful media institution, and one that could defeat government programmes like the Land Bill, CBS has been reduced to begging for survival. The dogged defiance seen in the early days of the closure has given away to desperation.” To read more, click here.
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