The riot is over, a bigger section of Kampala is back to work and its business as usual. The epicenter of the violence however remains quiet but tense.
However, to the media, the war continues. As usual the guns have turned on them and those who don’t like their reflection in the mirror have decided to smash it.
A number of journalist were beaten and harassed during the two days of riot, four radio stations (can’t vouch my defence for CBS) were switched off, three journalist suspended and one arrested.
In Part I, (May, 2008) I posted on the decision by the government to amend the existing media laws and introduce new ones, It is disheartening to say the least, but should not be unexpected.
And as I had said before, in the modern world, you have freedom of expression but after expression, you are striped off that freedom.
The media fraternity in Uganda is young but like an orphan child, the have been forced to become adults at a tender age, hence the gamble and mistakes through life, especially the FM radio stations.
In the last one year, the government has come down hard on the media, at least a dozen journalists in the country are facing prosecution over stories that the State deems either seditious or defamatory.
Besides, the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to propose a way of reining-in the media and the proposed Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Bill, 2008, commonly known as phone tapping bill, which is before Parliament for consideration are some of the plans the government is seeking to use to clamp down on independent media.
While President Yoweri Museveni always emphasises the importance of free speech, he has at the same time consistently attacked the media for allegedly “misleading and misinforming” the public.
Museveni has repeatedly promised to tame the media, accusing the media of bias and sabotaging national development.
However what makes me post today is not to decry the kind of treatment we have received from government. I don’t expect it to improve any time soon but to worsen as we head towards election.
Robert Kalundi Serumaga, the Radio One journalist was arrested on Friday night. According to panelist Bernard Tabaire and Peter Kibazo, Serumaga was arrested as soon as he stepped out of the studios of WBS TV station where they had conducted a live telecast debate on unrest in Central Uganda.
I watched the WBS program and was impressed by Serumaga's courage but scared for him. As a journalist, who has come under attack and tested the dose of both government and Buganda harassment, I could not help but worry for him.
Robert was arrested by security operatives and bundle into the boot of a Toyota car and taken to an unknown destination. He was then transferred to Central Police Station on Sunday and Today (two days) later charged with six counts sedition.
According to the Lango Association of UK, who transcribed the program, this could be the reason why he was arrested:
-he gave a genesis of the NRMO, and said the first rebel core committee was composed of about 8 members: 4 Baganda and 4 westerners, but by the time of coming out of the bush, all Baganda, apart from Lule were six feet under, giving example of one Seguya who was alledgedly poisoned! He posed the question why is it that one side came out alive and the other side were all finished? he argued that instead of Museveni saying he assisted Baganda, it was instead Buganda that assisted NRA war-effort, so the proverb of removing thorns from one's leg could only mean sense if Buganda removed thorns from Museveni's NRA feet, not the other way round.
-then he said the fracas seen on the streets was a reflection of the leadership style, remarking that he could only explain it as Museveni was a badly-brought up person, for even the ordinary Mukopi were of two types: one who was polished in mannerisms and could be accepted in community of well-behaved, and the other of a badly behaved person who will be around to spoil things for people, which he thought Museveni belongs to.
-Kalungi dropped the bombshell saying he saw it like Uganda was under colonial occupation, and UPDF and army of occupation, asking why the Bunyoro oil fields were guarded by Presidential Guard soldiers and Saracen security Guards of Salim Saleh? He allerted Banyoro that while they were venting their anger over Bafuruki, the oil-sale agreement was being concluded with British firms with total disregard of the Banyoro who have not asked what would belong to them when mining proper begins.
-He went full blast and listed occasions when the Uganda constitution was intentionally violated by the NRMo Government, and this one of preventing Kabaka to go wherever he deemed necessary was one such occasion of NRM violating the constitution.
When asked to summarise the good things of the week according to him, Serumaga said he was amused by the involvement of Kabakumba Matsiko (information), Matia Kasaija (Internal Affair), Kale Kaihura (Police Chief), sarcastically portraying that it was leaders from Western Uganda tormenting Kabaka and Buganda...
Could it be some of these....that has caused him some trouble. In present day world, Freedom of speech/press exists before you express it but ends when you express it.
... and Serumaga is experiencing this.
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