A radio talk show host in Arua and one of his regular panelists have been summoned by the police for allegedly making seditious statements against President Yoweri Museveni.
Clement Aluma hosts The Boiling Point, a weekly political talk show on Radio Nile FM in Arua. The police summons handed to him today say that during the show on May 8th, one of his panelists, Uganda People's Congress supporter Titia Kamure, accused President Museveni of using guerilla tactics in determining which parts of the country received new districts.
Kamure allegedly said the awarding of a district to Maracha County and reverting Terego County to its old district of Arua was wrong. He said it was part of Museveni's divide-and-rule policy, which he had used during his guerilla war against President Milton Obote's government.
Maracha and Terego counties were long involved in a conflict over a decision to curve them out of Arua for the creation of a new district. Leaders from both counties could not agree on where new district headquarters would be located. The dispute is still before court.
The Arua District Police Commander, Willis Mutabingwa, has refused to discuss the case against Clement Aluma and Titia Kamure, saying the facts of the matter are of public record.
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Aluma, who also manages Bornfree Television Network in Arua, said the summons is merely an attempt by government to suppress any voices of political opposition and free speech.
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The police summons has irked the West Nile Press Association.
Patrick Alioni, the association's chairperson, says the police are becoming the biggest enemy of media freedom in Uganda. He says he will mobilize journalists in the region to ensure the police do not abuse their power.
