By john blanshe musinguzi
“… I studied
politics, Kampala’s problem is not legal. Judges did not study politics.
Judiciary is on self destruction not redemption. Uganda judiciary has lost
credibility (he knocks on the table while speaking emotionally)… if you get an
expert, me I am an expert in media, public relations, if you get me…..” he
says. I am actually listening to Tamale Mirundi he is live on metro 90.8 FM
(November 28th, 2013).
He is the
presidential press secretary. He speaks aggressively mostly. He is NRM leading
propagandist. I am one of his staunch fans. I usually listen to him mostly on
Thursday and Friday live on metro 90.8 FM and Namirembe FM respectively. He is
usually hosted alone with no one to counter his arguments. Listeners are given
chance to call and express their views. In response he usually ‘abuses’ those
who disagree with him and praise his supporters.
The following is a list of his weekly talk shows on radio and tv( posted on
his facebook account on 11th November 2013), Mon 89.6 fm
Top Radio 6-8 pm, Tue 87.5 fm Star Fm 7-9 pm,Wed 94.4 fm Radio Sapientia 8-10 fm, Thur Bilal Fm 9-11am later Metro 90.8 fm 7-9pm, Fri impact fm 6-7 am , UBC Tv 8-9 am, Namirembe Fm 7-9 PM,
Sat Pearl Fm 9-11 am.
As the
lukwago impeachment saga continues to set precedents, Top radio presenter
Richard Kasule a.k.a Omuggagga Kamagu was on Tuesday this week arrested on
grounds of incitement to violence. This
came after when he hosted the deputy Lord mayor, Mr Suleiman Kidandala Monday
morning. Kasule is accused of hosting an opposition politicians without
government Official to counter his arguments.
According to
daily Monitor of Wednesday, two other journalists: Halima Asijo Uthuman of
Uganda Radio Network and Mulindwa Mukasa, the chairperson of Human Rights
Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), were also on Tuesday detained at Wandegeya Police Station as they
were following up on the arrest of Mr Kasule.
In such a
situation I ask myself why opposition politicians are not hosted to counter Mirundi’s
arguments. All opposition parties can afford to challenge him as he spreads
government propaganda. A fair representation by all political parties while
discussing political and social debates is important to save this withering
democracy.
According to David shills, in a multiparty community
freedom of opposition should be guaranteed as an effective check on the abuse
of power by the state.
We voted for multiparty in 2005, then freedom
of opposition should fully guaranteed. During Lukwago impeachment saga
government has been trying to deny the other side on a chance to give their
views. Media is one of the strong agents of political socialization were norms
values and orientations are developed.
Instead of
caging, Kasule, they would have demanded for time to present their side of the
story. Journalistic ethics call for giving the aggrieved party to defend
themselves. In looks so ridiculous, in the 21st century, a
journalist is in prison for hosting an opposition politician?. Do we section of
the law that Kasule defied?.
Ok let
government answer why opposition politicians have been denied time on UBC TV
and radio, these are public broadcasters which according to the broadcasting
policy is to contribute through programming a sense of national unity and
identity. Where is this national unity when it cannot host opposition
politicians?. It also calls UBC to serve overall public interest, avoiding one
sided reporting and programming in regard to political orientation.
Let
government grant media space to regulate itself. We try ombudsman whose role
is, in part, to keep news organizations honest and accountable to the public.
The ombudsman is intended to mediate in conflicts stemming from internal and or
external pressures, to maintain accountability to the public for news reported,
and to foster self-criticism and to encourage adherence to both codified and un
codified ethics and standards
John Blanshe Musinguzi Is a Journalism and Communication
Student at Makerere University
Tweet: johnblanshe_m
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