The Uganda Broadcasting Corporation Television manager, Mr Mark Walungama, has been dismissed for allegedly allowing disturbing pictures of recent city riots to run on a national broadcaster, Daily Monitor has learnt.
Mr Walungama, 44, is reportedly accused of sanctioning nasty pictures where armed security personnel were seen clobbering rioters in city streets.
Sources at UBC TV who preferred anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, told Daily Monitor yesterday that Mr Walungama ceased to be the station manager on the second day of the riots.
"He had misunderstandings with some of the top officials at the station over which content of riot video footage to air out and the following morning he was told never to report for work," a source said.
Mr Walungama joins other journalists suspended from work like Mr Peter Kibazo (WBS television), Mr Kalundi Sserumaga (Radio one), Mr Ssenkubuge Siasa (Radio Simba), Mr Charles Odongotho (Vision Voice) and Radio Sapientia journalists; Matovu Aloysius and Irene Kiseka and Ben Mutebi Amayengo.
Violent riots paralysed Kampala and other parts of Buganda region between September 10-12 after the government blocked the Buganda Kingdom premier, Eng. J.B. Walusimbi, from accessing Kayunga District ahead of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi's visit in the area. The riots left 27 people dead and about 600 people were jailed for participating in the riots.
However, UBC spokesperson Jane Kasumba dismissed reports that Mr Walungama was fired.
"It is not true that Mr Walungama was dismissed. He is just away on disciplinary suspension for a few issues pertaining to his department. And it has nothing to do with the riots pictures," Ms Kasumba told Daily Monitor yesterday.
"Once the issues are sorted out he will return to work," she added.
Meanwhile, the Director of the American Centre for International Labour Solidarity, Mr Richard Hall, yesterday added his voice to those whose who are calling for a free media in Uganda, saying his country will not sit back when freedom of expression is suppressed.
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