Government’s media expansion threatens free speech in Uganda

By MUBATSI ASINJA HABATI
Published November 18, 2009

Bukedde TV employees getting set for a telecast in the studios on Third Street, Industrial Area

As the government continues to tighten its grip on the critical media in Uganda, it is opening its own media outlets apace by acquiring a number of FM radio stations across the country. Although there are a number of private FM radio stations in the country, many are owned by individuals connected to President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Momvement (NRM). As a consequence, they hardly broadcast critical debates about government policies.

Since January 2008, the government-owned Vision Group has been acquiring key radio stations in the country in an ambitious plan, which observers say is a strategy to boost NRM’s 2011 election campaigns. The Group now owns Bukedde FM, Radio West, Vision Voice, Etop FM, among other vernacular and English print media outlets in various regions in the country. The new stations are adopting the titles of the print media outlets, among them Bukedde (for Central Uganda), Etop (Eastern), Orumuri (Western), and Rupiny (Northern). The government already controls Star FM, Mega FM and UBC radio and UBC TV.

A study conducted by the Democracy Monitoring Group on media coverage of the March 2006 presidential elections found that The New Vision covered FDC’s Kiiza Besigye more than NRM’s Yoweri Museveni, a factor that seems to have prompted the government’s increased interest in the news media. The study showed that The New Vision gave Besigye 50.1% coverage against 40.1% for Museveni. Other media gave Besigye 49.2% compared to 47.4% for Museveni. Not surprisingly then New Vision Chief Executive Officer, William Pike was sacked and replaced by Robert Kabushenga who seems keen on expanding the political influence of the Vision Group. Plans are underway to establish a TV station for the group besides the newly established Bukedde TV, although, the CEO says the expansion is a natural progression and strictly a business decision.

A sample of the leading radio stations in the country show most belong to people well connected to the NRM government. In Western Uganda there is Voice of Kamwenge FM owned by Eng Godfrey Mutabazi, Rwenzori FM owned by MP Frank Tumwebaze, Endigito FM owned by MP Nuru Byamukama, Voice of Kigezi, owned by Hon. Amama Mbabazi and Hope Mwesigye, and Radio Rukungiri, owned by Jim Muhwezi. In West Nile is radio Paidha owned by Hon Simon D’Ujang, and Radio Koboko owned by Sam Kajubi, while Rock FM in Eastern Uganda is owned by Paul Etiang, Voice of Busoga and Voice of Teso owned by Capt. Mike Mukula. All these are politicians.

If the trend continues, many argue voices critical of the government will not be heard. The government has already created an atmosphere of fear by having cracked down on four radio stations during the riots that engulfed Kampala few months ago. Two stations, radio Sapientia and Ssuubi FM have since been reopened, while CBS FM and Akaboozi are yet to resume broadcasting.

“A productive debate happens when people are not restrained in the kind of situations we have today where they think there is a lot surveillance going on in the community. An individual may want to say something, but when they measure themselves against the power of the state they get intimidated,” said Dr. George W. Lugalambi, the head of Mass Communication Department at Makerere University.

Despite the increasing suppression of the formal means of communication, many Ugandans have now resorted to alternative social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs as well as mobile phone SMS, according to Dr. Lugalambi. Although these new media channels will play a complementary role, they cannot offer an effective alternative to the mainstream news media. Although the new media may work as a new tool for mobilization it remains too susceptible to abuse. For example, during the Kampala riots, false SMS texts circulated that the Kabaka had been arrested sparking even more riots. “We are likely to go back to Amin’s era where pamphleteering became the order of the day,” one journalist said.

Reach Mubatsi Asinja Habati at editor@eafricainfocus.com