By John Stephen Katende

14^th Jan 2013

A Kenyan based Ugandan entrepreneur who runs a bar and restaurant has taken the extreme decision to ban his employees from tuning into all Ugandan television stations that are aired by DSTV.  His decision is, however, not a protest against DSTV.  It’s a protest against the socio-political story images coming from Uganda.

Musoke says most images coming out of Uganda these days cause him a great deal of shame and embarrassment – not least because he is a fiercely patriotic Ugandan who is respected by the many European tourists who frequent his bar and restaurant in Mtwapa, a buzzing township that occupies both sides of the Mombasa-Malindi highway.

“…When you are away from home, your home TV and radio programmes are your connection with your motherland – it’s a very special thing.  And for a very long time, that was the case for me.  I used to take pride in giving analytical commentary about news from Uganda to my customers”, said Stephen Musoke.

The Turning Point

But all that changed in 2011.  Why 2011, you may wonder!  Well, Musoke says it all started with the images of the government’s reaction to the walk-to-work campaign launched by the opposition parties to protest what they called the “theft” of the 2011 general elections by President Museveni’s ruling NRM party.

“…The way the government reacted to the walk-to-work protests which were largely peaceful was shocking.  I could not believe my eyes.  I could not believe that it was President Museveni doing the exact things the old regimes used to do, the same things that he says he fought against!  Harassing and killing innocent and unarmed civilians – how can that be right?” – Musoke wondered.

Of the many incidents and images of political violence that have come out of Uganda in the last two years, there are some particular ones that have left an indelible stain of disgust in Musoke’s mind.  Key among these was the cold-blooded killing of two year old Juliana Nalwanga by police officers in Masaka.

The other incident that Musoke talks about very emotionally was when police officers shot a pregnant woman in the stomach.  “…When I saw the woman’s intestines hanging out, I cried and cried – I couldn’t stop crying”, says Musoke.  “That was beyond barbarism to me.” Musoke added.

He also talked about how he watched in disbelief as police officers violently arrested and nearly killed former FDC President Dr Kizza Besigye, and how a KCCA official ordered the shooting of unarmed civilians in Luzira during an eviction exercise.

Breaking the Camel’s Back

As revolting to Musoke as all the previous incidents were, all were dwarfed by the manner in which a police officer indecently assaulted FDC Women League leader Ms Ingrid Turinawe by repeatedly squeezing her breasts in full view of television cameras.

“…For me, that was the proverbial last straw that broke the Camel’s back.  I couldn’t take it anymore – because in Turinawe I saw my mother, my sisters, and even my elder daughters.  I concluded that something had gone fundamentally wrong in our country under Museveni’s rule.  Even Obote’s soldiers never treated women like that.” Musoke said.

From that time on, Musoke said, he ordered all his employees never to tune into Ugandan television stations, and they have never since.  In Musoke’s eyes, everything Ugandan is now a source of shame.  From the unprecedented impunity, to the endemic corruption by government officials – nothing gives Musoke the pride he used to have in Uganda.  He even regrets not having taken the decision to ban Ugandan TV earlier.

“…In fact, when I think about it now, I kick myself for not banning Ugandan programmes earlier.  Kenyans now despise us.  And in a small way, I feel that I contributed to that by allowing the broadcast of shocking images from Uganda.” says Musoke.

At the request of this reporter, Musoke reluctantly accepted to tune into NTV as a one off.  As fate would have it, the first image on the screen was that of a Ugandan who hasn’t bathed in donkey’s years being forcefully washed by locals.

“…You see, this is exactly what I mean.  It is pathetic,” Musoke said, before quickly switching back to NTV-Kenya.  END: Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates.