Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the first deputy prime minister and minister of east African affairs has written to Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) executive director Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo asking her to crack the whip against Ssebo FM over content she claims to be humiliating and insulting.
According to Kadaga, the content aired during the Agafire mu Week program every Saturday from 9am to midday is aimed at “ridiculing, humiliating and insulting” her.
The show is hosted by a one Aloysius Nyenje. Guests include Charles Magoga and Badru Watongola, both of whom Kadaga says have made it a habit to disparage her name.
UCC has now directed Ssebo FM managing director to defend the radio station regarding the complaints, including character assassination, as raised by Kadaga.
In her February 22 letter to the Ssebo FM MD, ED Kaggwa informed the station’s bosses that the claims made by the deputy prime minister constitute a breach of minimum broadcasting standards as enshrined in section 31 and schedule 4 of the Uganda Communications Act, 2013.
Kaggwa ordered the Ssebo FM MD to submit all the recordings and the scripts of the ‘Agafire mu Week’ program that aired from December 20, 2021 to February 20, 2022.
She also directed the radio station to submit a written defense in response to Kadaga’s complaints.
UCC also wants the station to present copies of academic qualifications and proof of registration with Media Council for ‘Agafire mu Week’ presenter Nyenje as well as the program producer in line with the Press and Journalist Act.
