The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has suspended the operation license of Pearl FM (107.9), a Muslim-founded media station, for allegedly broadcasting “alarmist” and “sensational” information related to the Kawempe North by-election.
In a letter to the managing director of the station, UCC noted that during their show “Mpulidde Kamenya” yesterday, the presenter Sulaiman Kalule alleged that there was ballot stuffing and vote rigging in some parts of Kawempe.
“Mr Kalule alleged and stated that vote rigging and ballot stuffing was taking place in many areas in Kawempe…The presenter also presented information that was inaccurate, misleading, and full of distortions. He failed to distinguish between comments, conjecture, and facts,” the statement signed by Nyombi Thembo, the executive director of UCC, read in part.
UCC said that in the meantime they are still carrying out investigations but the radio’s license has been suspended.
“In order to protect the public during the emotive election period in Kawempe, the commission hereby suspends the broadcasting services of Pearl FM as the commission completes the investigation into this matter. Pearl FM is hereby ordered to shut down all its broadcast services with immediate effect until the commission has completed the investigations…”, Thembo wrote.
Kawempe North went to the polls today amidst tension ands heightened security deployment. A number of journalists have been roughed up and some media houses have withdrawn their teams.
The main competition is between NUP’s Elias Nalukoola and NRM’s Farida Nambi.
