Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has issued a directive to Kanungu Broadcasting Services (KBS) to close operations immediately.
Godfrey Mutabazi, the Executive Director UCC in a statement dated October 20th writes that KBS has breached the minimum broadcasting standards.
Mutabazi writing to Musinguzi Garuga, the Managing Director, accuses the station of broadcasting certain programs that violate the minimum broadcasting standards.
Mutabazi also asked KBS to suspend the station Manager, Ronalds Agaba alias Mwene Ngaro and Desmond Kyokwijuka Misri, the host of the Global Focus program and anchor of Rukiga news.
KBS was requested to submit recordings of the Global Focus program for the past month.
The Commission warns KBS to reopen only when this matter is settled and acquire a valid broadcasting license.
“The commission shall not hesitate to carry out further enforcement actions against it, including prosecution of its directors for illegal broadcast under section 27 (2) of the UCC Act 2013”, he writes.
Garuga, the proprietor of the radio couldn’t be reached for a comment as his phones were switched off. One of the employees who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity blamed their woes on political intrigue.
He claimed that some National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders recently threatened to push for the closure of the station for allegedly giving platform to those against the presidential age limit removal.
KBS is a popular destination for opposition leaders targeting audiences in the districts of Kanungu, Rukungiri, Kabale and Kisoro.
