NUP's radio program in Dokolo disrupted allegedly due to government intimidation

A scheduled radio program featuring the National Unity Platform (NUP) and its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, was abruptly halted in Dokolo District.

Kyagulanyi and his team, present in Dokolo ahead of the upcoming by-election to replace former Woman MP Cecilia, were supposed to appear on the radio show this morning. The by-election is scheduled for March 21, 2024.

The cancellation of the radio program was allegedly motivated by fears of intervention from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). Kyagulanyi has accused the station management of succumbing to pressure and suppressing freedom of speech in the region.

According to Kyagulanyi, the radio program aimed to address the people of Lango on the wider issues surrounding the struggle against President Yoweri Museveni's government. It was scheduled to be broadcast from a local station in Dokolo. However, the station management expressed concerns about potential repercussions from the UCC if they allowed the NUP to speak freely.

"We were deeply disappointed when the station's management informed us that they feared being shut down by the UCC if they allowed us to speak to the people of Lango about the general issues of the struggle against Museveni," Kyagulanyi stated during a press conference held in Dokolo.

Furthermore, Kyagulanyi accused the station management of taking additional measures to hinder their efforts, claiming that the Public Address Systems (PAs) they had planned to use were confiscated at the last minute. He condemned these actions as intimidation tactics aimed at suppressing the message of change.

"These cowards have gone ahead to intimidate the people whose Public Address Systems we have been using and taken them away at the last minute," he said.

Despite the setbacks, Kyagulanyi vowed to persist in spreading the message of change, emphasizing the importance of addressing the grievances faced by the Ugandan population.

This incident is the latest in a series of allegations made by opposition parties and civil society organizations regarding the suppression of dissenting voices in Uganda. These actions hinder the opposition's efforts to engage with the electorate and voice concerns regarding governance and democracy.