Mukono mucipality MP Betty Nambooze (Left) and Kampala central MP Mohammed Nsereko (Right) have been suspended CBS radio until further notice.
MPs Betty Nambooze and Kampala central MP Mohammed Nsereko have been suspended indefinitely from appearing on Buganda Kingdom radio station, Central Broadcasting Service.
In an exclusive interview with 256news.com Friday morning, Ms. Nambooze, the Mukono municipality MP said that he received a telephone call from CBS management, communicating a decision that all the programmes where she has been appearing with Nsereko had been suspended until further notice.
“Basing on the prevailing circumstances, CBS was just communicating a decision from State House. The Ministers of Presidency and Information recently said they would not allow what they referred to as ‘lies’ on radios so I am not surprised,” said Nambooze.
The development comes against the backdrop of President Yoweri Museveni’s threats to close radio stations that host individuals who “continue peddling lies against government and sabotaging development.”
Ms. Nambooze described CBS’ move as “an attack on the Ugandan media,” adding, “we know that CBS has been under pressure from the Media Council and State House.”
She added that CBS has been operating without license ever since it was reopened in 2011, having been shut at the peak of an acrimonious fight between government and Mengo, the political seat of the Kingdom, in September 2009.
“So CBS has been surviving on the mercy of government; it can be closed any time from now.”
The Mukono Municipality MP said she was not “worried” about the suspension “when you silence me from radios I can reach out to my people through other means such as public rallies,” she said.
Ms. Nambooze was detained for almost a week some years ago over her harsh stance against government during radio talk shows which Museveni said bordered on “fanning tribal sentiments.”
A few weeks ago, popular political programmes on Hits FM radio station in western Uganda were suspended after it emerged that some panelists had leveled personal attacks on the First Lady Janet Museveni.
Analysts say the suspension of the MPs from CBS has sparked fears of a possible rift between government and Mengo.
