| ARUA
THE much publicised talk-show on Arua One FM radio station, meant to feature exiled FDC leader Dr Kizza Besigye failed to take off just minutes before the planned broadcast on Tuesday after the station managers reported a technical problem.
However, several officials of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) have said they could not rule out sabotage. The FDC officials said they are sending a protest letter to the management of the radio.
The radio belongs to Hajat Omar Anuna, a presidential adviser on religious affairs and her son Mr Omar Muhammed, a legal assistant in the Presidents Office who is also the station managing director.
In a week- long advert, the radio had announced that Besigye was to call in from Johannesburg, South African during the Ti-ecita programme, a political talk-show which runs daily from 8:00-9:pm.
But the radio station stopped transmission 20 minutes to the time Besigye was to be hosted.
FDC Deputy Nati
onal
co-ordinator Funga Kaps Hassan said he told Besigye when he called him that the show couldnt take off because the radio had gone off-air. Several local journalists and FDC sympathisers thronged the station that night on learning it had gone off-air.
FDC vice chairman and MP for Maracha County Alex Onzima, who was to be co-hosted was disappointed to learn that the show would not take place.
He later exchanged bitter words with the station manager, Mr Abubaker Hussein, as he sought an explanation.
We have a problem with the transmitter, the supply unit of electricity from West Nile Electrification Company is damaged. We tried to call our technician but he is out of town. We also have a problem with the generator...it can not run for a long time, Abubakar explained.
As management you should have set everything in order knowing that you were going to host a senior citizen, Onzima said.
It was not by making, Abubakar replied. It is the machin
es.
Efforts to get a comment from the radios station manager Ms Nelda Oti were fruitless as she was away in Kampala and could not pick her mobile phone.
People might have a negative perception of the radio station. Well this could be a political sabotage, Onzima replied.
But Abubakar denied any sabotage.
There is no political sabotage. How many times have we hosted you honourable? Abubakar asked.
But I am an insignificant person in Ugandas politics and you know the doctor (Besigye). I see a lot of sympathy and innocence in your face, but it seems you are under
undue pressure Onzima replied.
I did not even contact my directors, Abubakar interjected.
Onzima said they faced a similar problem last month when the opened FDC offices in Kanungu.
The radio station there belongs to a Movement supporter and they said they had no business with FDC.
Show host Osman Ayeko said This is very painful.
He said he might consider resigning be
cause he
suspects foul play by his technicians.
Oh God I just want it. If they can not fire me I will fire my self he said.
On Wednesday morning several FDC supporters thronged the party offices on Plot 26 Rhino Camp Road, in Arua town to inquire why the show had flopped.
Efforts to get a comment from the radios station
manager Mrs Nelda Oti were fruitless as she was awayin Kampala and could not pick her mobile phone.
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