RADIO BUGANDA (CBS) WINS IN COURT

The High Court in Kampala has dismissed with costs a case which was filed by government against CBS radio.Government closed down radio CSB in September 2009 accusing it of inciting people to violence after several riots broke out in areas of Buganda when Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi was blocked at River Ssezibwa by military operatives from proceeding to over see the final reparations for Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga which was slated for 12th September to grace Buganda Youth Day.However, through their lawyers J.W. Katende, Ssempebwa, Fredrick Ssentomero and Adram, the radio staff filed a civil suit in February in which they requested court to order government to immediately open up the radio and pay all the loses incurred by the employees since the radio was closedThe government also filed counter accusations against the radio which it accused of having been exploited to incite the public in September 2009 to riot against a decision to block Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga.During the last proceedings, lead council J.W Sempebwa agued that government cannot in any way file a suit against the radio since there are enough laws which are clearly stated in the electronic media statute which regulates all programmes aired on all electronic media.Whiling ruling on this case on Friday morning, Justice Vicente Zehurikize said that government has no right to take the radio to courts of law on behalf of the public.Justice Zehurikize announced October 8th 2010 to start hearing of the case that was filed by the radio employees.