National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has given Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) green light to investigate troubled journalists for 30 days.
In a meeting held Tuesday with the top administration of UCC, NAB committee led by NBSTV proprietor Kin Kalisa, harmonised on the directive that has received huge backlash.
Last week, the regulator (UCC) ordered for the immediate suspension of 39 producers, heads of programming and heads of news from 13 media houses for violating minimum broadcasting standards during the coverage of the arrest of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi late last month.
Speaking to the media shortly after the meeting, UCC head Godfrey Mutabazi said they resolved that the journalists step aside to allow investigations commence for 30 days.
However, the affected parties can still be deployed in other areas or departments until the investigation are concluded.
“We don’t care whether they puts you in another position, but for as long as that position was investigated, you will step aside so that we can freely investigate,” said Mutabazi.
“NAB requested for this meeting and today, they laid their concerns before us. We agreed that the editors especially those who were in charge on 29th April, step aside to allow investigation and this investigation will take 30days,” Ibrahim Bbosa, UCC, Head of PR and International Relations added.
He clarified that, “No one is going to be sacked, but we have simply agreed that they step aside from the current positions they are holding. The outcomes of the investigations will guide us on the next step.
(Additional reporting by KampalaPost)
