In a move that could signal attempts to diminish the influence CBS Radio, Katikkiro JB Walusimbi held a high profile meeting with a delegation from Uganda government owned Bukedde FM Radio in his office yesterday. The Bukedde FM delegation included Bill Tibingana, Bill Mboigana, Kolumbasi Olunya, Paul Kaddu and Helene Nakacwa. The Buganda government side included Katikkiro Walusimbi, Information Minister Charles Peter Mayiga and Tourism Minister Florence Kiyingi. Bukedde FM radio is a Luganda radio station that was opened only months ago after public statements by President Yoweri Museveni that he would fight CBS Radio propaganda with his own radio.

CBS Radio, which is the official radio station of Buganda government and Ssabasajja Kabaka, is by far the most popular Luganda radio station in the country. After more than 10 years in operation and carrying popular personalities such as Betty Nambooze, Betty Kamya, Hussein Kyanjo and Medard Lubega, it’s considered the source of truth by a majority of Baganda. Since the departure Katikkiro Mulwaanyamuli Ssemogwerere President Museveni has regularly accused CBS Radio station to be the mouth piece of his Statehouse opponents and frequently threatens to close it. On July 18, 2008 Mr. Museveni took the first steps towards closing CBS Radio when Mmengo officials, Betty Nambooze, Peter Mayiga and Medard Lubega were kidnapped and held captive for a week, apparently for using CBS Radio to “abuse” the NRM government. Not to upset Mr. Museveni Katikkiro Walusimbi ordered CBS Radio management to tone down all their programs and to discontinue broadcasts by Betty Nambooze, only to be overruled by Kabaka Mutebi.

During their visit to Bulange, Bukedde FM management assured the Katikkiro that the Uganda government owned radio was ready to be a channel for the Buganda government to communicate to Kabaka’s subjects, very much like Bukedde newspaper. They praised Katikkiro Walusimbi for what they called his great efforts to eradicate poverty in Buganda. And they bought Buganda certificates worth 2 million Ushs. However, they reported to the Katikkiro that there are certain Mmengo officials who “harass” them and deny them cooperation.

A jovial Katikkiro Walusimbi expressed his gratitude to the Uganda government radio station, Bukedde FM, and requested the management to add programs that “tell people the truth” and help them develop. He added that it is necessary to fight laziness among Baganda and promised. He revealed that that he was going to start coordinating his plans with LC 5 chairmen to fight poverty starting with making sure that bars can only open after 5 P.M.

Since Kabaka Mutebi’s intervention against the Katikkiro’s decision to discontinue Betty Nambooze from CBS Radio, Katikkiro Walusimbi appears between a rock and a hard place. On one hand he cannot directly disobey Kabaka Mutebi and on the other he cannot afford to ignore Mr. Museveni’s demands that CBS Radio be tamed.