President Yoweri Museveni has suspended planned radio talk shows to discuss the proposed amendment to the constitution to enable government acquire land for development projects when the need arises.
The bill seeks to amend Article 26 of the Constitution to provide for the compulsory acquisition of land for government projects. Article 26 provides for the right of persons to own property and how it can be acquired by the government after compensation. But the government argues that the provision has slowed down the implementation of key projects resulting from compensation disputes.
The proposed amendment has attracted wide condemnation from the public, including religious leaders and civil society organisations among others.
President Museveni was due to appear on Point FM in Mubende later today and Radio Buddu in Masaka tomorrow, September 9 to engage the listeners on the bill.
Since Monday, President Museveni's advance team has been at Radio Buddu to ensure security when he appears. The State House Operatives also registered all staff at the radio and took their contacts. State House media team also installed cameras to record the talk show.
The radio management made some changes in the studio located along Elgin Street in Masaka by installing new microphones.
The talk shows have however been called off.
Hajj Umar Ssekasamba, the Radio Buddu Programmes Manager, says they received a phone call from State House suspending the planned talk show. He explains that State House told them that President Museveni had got an emergency which requires him to travel abroad for an International conference. He however says State House told them that once he returns from abroad, he will inform them of the day he will come for the talk show.
Don Wanyama, the senior presidential press secretary wrote on his Facebook Wall explaining that the planned talk-shows have been cancelled "because the president's schedule has changed".
"Great thanks to the public that has been following President Museveni's land education campaign through radio. We had a great show for Bunyoro sub-region this evening on Spice FM and a host of other radios. A lot of the lies that had been peddled about government's land policies and proposed constitutional amendments are being exposed. However to our people in Mubende (Point FM), Masaka (Radio Buddu), Kampala and Jinja (Baba FM) who were anticipating to hear from the President on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday respectively, be notified that the shows have been postponed because the President's schedule has changed. New dates will be communicated…"
Ahead of this suspended programme, Uganda Commissions Commission -UCC had ordered all radio stations in greater Masaka region to loop Radio Buddu and broadcast President Museveni's talk show.