Muhwezi vows to close media houses
Rukungiri. The Minister for Information and National Guidance, Maj Gen (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi, has vowed to shut down media houses he said are violating the law and inciting the public during the election campaigns.
“While we are interested in democracy, freedom of the media, of the press, we definitely want stability in our country. There is no media house that can take the law in their hands and we keep quiet. Yes, definitely we shall close them,” Gen Muhwezi said.
He was addressing a press conference at Rukungiri Inn in Rukungiri Town on Thursday.
Gen Muhwezi said the conference was aimed at addressing issues pertaining to the arrest of Go Forward campaign agents who were allegedly planning to hold a separate press conference to present NRM members who had defected to the Opposition.
“There are some media houses which are abusing their licence. The purpose of government licensing media houses is to inform, to educate, to entertain the public, not to misinform or incite violence and there are laws that govern the media. If there is any radio or media house that has been closed it must have violated the law and if they do, definitely they will be closed,” he said.
He was responding to a question on threats to close Radio Kinkizi in Kanungu District owned by presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi and the shutting down of Endigyito Radio in Mbarara District last week.
Endigyito Radio was closed two days after hosting Mr Mbabazi last week. Recently, officials from Uganda Communications Commission visited Radio Kinkizi and threatened to close it over expiry of broadcasting licence.
Gen Muhwezi said Mr Mbabazi’s radio had been playing sectarian messages on air wondering why the UCC had not taken action against it.
Speaking on the suspension of NTV from covering presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni’s rallies, Gen Muhwezi said the NRM had made a choice, but that could not tantamount to media clump-down.
“As for NTV being chased from any of the candidates, that’s a choice because you don’t have a right to come and attend my rally and then twist what you have covered and report differently,” he said.
