UCC warns NBS TV over Tamale Mirundi
What you need to know:
In the latest talk show hosted on Tuesday May 9, Tamale Mirundi lost his temper and descended on the programme host Simon Muyanga Lutaaya, after he was questioned him about copies of his lease application that had been circulating on social media. He was heard threatening to kill any person claiming that he has previously applied for leasehold on Buganda Kingdom Land.
The Uganda Communications Commissions (UCC) has issued a 60-day notice for the suspension of a broadcasting license to NBS TV for breaching minimum broadcasting standards.
The notice dated 11 May 2017, makes reference to NBS programme featuring presidential advisor Joseph Tamale Mirundi. In the letter, UCC Executive Director Godfrey Mutabazi says that the commission is appalled and takes strong exception to the conduct and language used by Tamale while on air.
The commission observes that the abusive language used on the programme contravened public morality and promoted a culture of violence and ethnic prejudice. On the programme, Tamale Mirundi angrily attacks Buganda Kingdom Officials as well as Buganda Land Board over the ongoing campaign dubbed 'Ekyaapa mu Ngalo'
The Campaign which is running for the next six months is aimed at strengthening security of tenure for tenants on the Kingdom land. Buganda Kingdom is using the drive to issue leasehold certificates of title to tenants on Kabaka's land.
In the latest talk show hosted on Tuesday May 9, Tamale Mirundi lost his temper and descended on the programme host Simon Muyanga Lutaaya, after he was questioned him about copies of his lease application that had been circulating on social media. He was heard threatening to kill any person claiming that he has previously applied for leasehold on Buganda Kingdom Land.
But UCC's Godfrey Mutabaazi says the content of the programme contravenes minimum broadcasting standards. Mutabaazi adds that NBS Television had been cautioned on four various occasions over the last three years, over similar broadcasts. The cautions were issued on November 30 2015, on October 5 2016, on October 10 2016 and on March 14, 2017.
Section 41, of the UCC act empowers the Commission to give any operator written notice of not less than 60 days in case of an impending suspension or revocation of a broadcasting license. During the period, the operator may make representations to the Commission to stop the action.
The commission warns that should it not receive any presentations to the notice of suspension of license within the stipulated period, the commission shall proceed to suspend the television broadcasting license of NBS without further notice.
