Al Mahdi Ssenkabirwa and Joseph Miti
4 November 2009
Kampala — The National Organisation of Trade Unions has petitioned President Museveni asking him to review the closure of radio stations whose workers have been rendered jobless for two months.
Notu Chairman Usher Wilson Owere said the closure of the stations has affected thousands of workers and their families. "We appeal to the President to reconsider his decision and allow the stations to reopen. He has been very instrumental in mobilising local investors to create jobs and it will be a contradiction if those (investors) who have created some jobs are frustrated," he said last week.
Mr Owere said if some workers in the stations committed mistakes in the course of their duties they should be dealt with individually. "As Notu we believe in dialogue and if some individuals committed mistakes they can be disciplined while others are working .This is how conflicts are resolved and we are optimistic that the authorities will follow this line," he said. He told Daily Monitor the organisation has already drafted a formal petition that will soon be officially posted.
"We are also trying to fix an appointment with him to discuss other work-related issues but the suspension of presenters of WBS TV, Radio Sapentia and Radio One will be top on the agenda," he said. The recent closure of four local radio stations left over 1,000 workers jobless.
Businesses with linkages to them like restaurants, bookshops food vendors and boda boda riders have also suffered. On September 10, riots broke out in various parts of Buganda as a result of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi's aborted visit to Kayunga District.
In the media crackdowns that followed, the Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio station was shut down over allegations of inciting violence and promoting sectarianism. The following day, three other radio stations including Radio Two, commonly known as Akaboozi ku biiri, Radio Ssuubi and the Catholic Church's Radio Sapientia were switched off.
The latter has since been reopened but three workers - Mr Aloysius Matovu, Ms Irene Kisekka and Mr Ben Mutebi were suspended indefinitely. CBS' two radio stations - broadcasting on 88.8 and 89.2 FM employ over 200 workers in it's broadcasting, editorial, marketing and advertisement sections.
Radio One talks show host Mr Kalundi Serumaga, as well as Peter Kibazo of WBS TV were also stripped of the right to host talk shows. The government run Broadcasting Council which regulates radio station operations blamed the affected stations of inciting violence. It warned that more stations, KFM inclusive, will face a similar fate should they try to incite violence. The Kabaka has appointed a six-member team that will meet the President over the reopening of the stations.
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