Rukingiri, Uganda – Rukungiri’s political climate has intensified after the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) suspended Boona FM’s controversial host Kakyene Namanya – a move opposition figures are calling politically motivated.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The July 4 directive from UCC Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo follows Kakyene’s July 3 broadcast where he allegedly described Energy Minister Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa’s power project launch as “a pre-election hoax to deceive voters.”
Minister Nankabirwa had inaugurated the high-profile project on July 2 alongside Rukungiri’s ruling party MPs at a well-attended ceremony featuring hundreds of supporters.
“This is clearly an attempt to silence critical voices ahead of elections. When journalists expose unfulfilled government promises, they become targets,” an Individual told our reporter on condition of anonymity.
The suspension culminates years of regulatory issues with the station. A 2024 UCC investigation found Kakyene lacked proper journalism credentials and the station operated with unregistered staff – violations that persisted despite a December 2024 compliance order.Boona FM now faces a July 18 deadline to justify why its license shouldn’t be revoked.
The station’s predicament has divided Rukungiri residents, with some supporting the UCC’s action while others see it as election-season censorship.
Media analysts warn the case could set significant precedents for political reporting during Uganda’s upcoming campaign period, with journalists nationwide monitoring the outcome closely.
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