KFM panelists summoned over Besigye show

Source: Daily MONITOR, 24 MAY 2011

Kampala

The police on Monday summoned KFM Hot Seat show host Charles Mwanguhya and panelist Bernard Tabaire over the April 4 talk show on which the duo hosted Dr Kizza Besigye. The summons reportedly comes as the police intensify the search for evidence to pin the opposition leader over his involvement in the walk-to-work protests that started last month.

Ms Grace Akullo, the acting Commandant of the Police Special Investigations Unit, in a May 23 letter said the unit is inquiring about the activities of Activists for Change. “As part of the police investigations, we request you to allow us interview and record statements from the aforementioned persons who hosted Dr Kiiza Besigye on Hot Seat on April 4, 2011,” reads Ms Akullo’s letter to KFM radio Managing Director.

However, Mr Tabaire yesterday said he did not see any point in the summons. “The show’s recording should speak for itself, but Charles (Mwanguhya) and I will show up as other journalists always have and answer any questions worth answering. It will not be my first time at the police answering their questions regarding journalistic work,” said Mr Tabaire in an email response.

Nothing new
Mr Mwanguhya said: “I don’t think we will have anything new to tell the investigators. The show is broadcast live and I believe the police media unit listens to the show or at least they should have listened. Everything we said is there.”

Ms Anne Abeja-Muhwezi, the Monitor Publications Company Secretary, confirmed receiving the summons. “As Monitor/KFM, we shall produce the duo before the police. But we shall consult internally to appear in the course of the week. We intend to cooperate fully as we usually do,” Ms Muhwezi said. She said the two journalists are not suspects to any crime but have only been asked to appear to help the police in their investigations.