The move has rubbed legislators the wrong way, some of them saying the Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio is being punished for mistakes caused by government.

"Was it radios that stopped the Kabaka's visit to Kayunga or the government," MP Geoffrey Ekanya (FDC,Tororo County) asked to applause in Parliament early last week.

Mr Awori's failure to commit himself means the kingdom-owned radio is likely to be off air for a much longer period as the committee comes up with new rules to regulate its operations.

Mr Awori told the House on Tuesday, that he was appointed by President Museveni as the chairman of the eight-man committee, including Maj. Gen. Salim Saleh, the President's younger brother who was co-opted into the team to liaise with the Mengo establishment, since it is believed that he enjoys a special relationship with the Kabaka.

Mr Awori's submission was prompted by a motion moved by MP Odonga Otto (FDC, Amuru County), calling for the immediate re-opening of CBS.

"When we are finished with interacting with all stakeholders, including some of you here, we shall report back to the person who assigned us with the task and then come and make a statement here," Mr Awori said.

When asked to state when his committee will conclude its work, he declined to commit himself, arguing that there was still work to be done. He added that it is not proper for the House to delve into on issues that are before Cabinet."We are aware of the principle need of the station to be back on air and make profit including all other factors as well, so we are doing our best to finish up this task as quickly as possible," Mr Awori said.

It is four months since the Broadcasting Council shut down the station on charges that it had violated minimum broadcasting standards and had been used as a tool to propagate violence and civil unrest during September's bloody riots.

Mr Otto said freedom of speech is a constitutional right, arguing that the continued closure of CBS is a contravention of the country's constitution.

He said: "If you (government) continue to keep this staion closed, you will be denying the people who listen to this radio the chance of being part of the political process ahead of 2011."But the Minister in charge of General Duties, Janat Mukwaya said government should not be pressured into re-opening CBS radio, given that its actions were responsible for the deaths, injury and loss of properties in the riots.

"What happened alienated Buganda from Uganda and some of us have been working tirelessly to bring Buganda into Uganda and we don't want to go into times when a good Muganda was a dead one," Ms Mukwaya said.

MP Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM, Lwemiyiga County) and Kasule Lumumba Justine (NRM, Woman MP for Bugiri District) both supported the motion to re-open CBS while James Kakooza (NRM, Kabula County) said CBS should go to court to have its case sorted out.