KAMPALA – In an eventful week, the Uganda Communications Commission threw a dagger, ordering for the suspension of journalists at 13 local TV and radio stations accused of airing sensationalized programming.
This was a day after the stations widely covered arrest of budding opposition figure and Kyadondo East legislator Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, who has since announced to challenge President Museveni, in the 2021 polls.
The UCC called for the suspension of the producers and heads of programming and news from outlets including NTV Uganda, NBS TV and Capital FM in a statement issued Tuesday.
Both local and international agencies including the American Embassy in Uganda, the European Union delegation and the Uganda Journalists Association condemned the UCC’s demands as an affront to media freedom. The media owners through the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), too protested the UCC orders and a meeting has been set for Tuesday to resolve the matter.
Meanwhile, Bobi Wine was on Thursday granted bail and during a video link from Luzira prison for his bail hearing, youthful MP, who is facing charges of unlawful assembly was in bullish mood, telling the magistrate to decide as she pleased.
Before the court granted him bail on a cash bond of UGX. 1million, the Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Esther Nahirya called him out for his opinion, and the singer turned politician let out his heart, indicating his commitment to continue with his ‘People Power’ struggle.
“If standing for what is right is going to hand me my freedom, I will thank God for it. If standing for what is right is going to keep me in this prison, and then I will thank God even louder. After all, I have a lot of work to do, even here in prison,” he said.
In the same week, the High Court in Kampala declared city law firm Sebalu & Lule Advocates unfit to represent dfcu Bank in a case against city tycoon Sudhir Rupareria and his Crane Bank Ltd.
The High Court declared the law firm is conflicted, and dismissed them from representing the parties in a longstanding commercial dispute because the lawyers have relevant information concerning Crane Management Services having participated in the review of its tenancy agreements.
The Court ordered the lawyers of Sebalu & Lule Advocates to pay costs to Mr. Sudhir.
In other news, former Kampala Metropolitan commander ACP Siraje Bakaleke was declared a wanted man by Police, an institution he serves. Apparently, Mr. Bakaleke is on the run and is wanted to answer charges of abuse of office.
Police spokesman Fred Enanga said Mr. Bakaleke is wanted by the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court for “offences of abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud and kidnapping with intent to confine a person…”
Mr. Bakaleke has eluded the Force and the court for some months now.
Last year, Mr. Bakaleke, formerly a blue-eyed boy in the police, was arrested on allegations of obtaining $400,000 from three Korean investors who were in Uganda for business deals in connivance with an unidentified city lawyer.