Uganda silences radio station
2006-03-15 09:44
Kampala - Ugandan authorities have shut down a radio station that allegedly aired a talk show critical of the country's military and ruling party, says media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Wednesday.
The New York-based CPJ said police shut Choice FM based in the northern town of Gulu on Monday after it aired the show in which an opposition politician criticised local civilian and military authorities for alleged corruption and mistreatment of local residents in last month's municipal elections.
State-run regulator Uganda Broadcast Council said the show aired on February 28 was "in violation of the minimum broadcasting standards", citing a section of the country's media law that banned programmes "likely to cause public insecurity or violence".
Authorities may lift suspension
CPJ said the council accused Choice FM of operating without a licence but news editor Sam Lawino said the station had a receipt from the council for the renewal of its broadcasting licence dated March 3.
CPJ chief Ann Cooper condemned the increasing clampdown on media freedom and urged authorities to lift the suspension.
She said: "The closure of Choice FM is nothing but political retaliation for airing a programme critical of the ruling party and military.
"We are alarmed that this and other curtailments of press freedom show that Uganda, a country with a vibrant local press, is moving in a repressive direction. Authorities should lift the suspension on Choice FM immediately."
February 23 elections
CPJ coordinator for Africa Julia Crawford said Uganda was showing a steady pattern in clamping down on journalists especially since the February 23 elections won by President Yoweri Museveni.
Last week, authorities denied entry to a Canadian journalist who wrote for the Economist, Washington Times and Christian Science Monitor over coverage of the east African nation's first multi-party elections since 1980, which took place last month.
On Monday, Museveni asked a court to dismiss a petition by his main rival seeking to nullify the election results, which extended his 20-year hold on power.