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Charles Peter Mayiga, the Prime Minister (Katikkiro) of Buganda Kingdom, has responded to concerns regarding the apparent absence of opposition leader Bobi Wine from Buganda’s media houses, CBS FM and BBS TV.
Bobi Wine, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has frequently claimed that he is being barred from appearing on the two stations due to instructions from President Yoweri Museveni.
He adds that this is meant to silence his hardline views on Buganda matters.
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However, Mayiga has clarified that while Bobi Wine has been hosted in the past, it is not practical for him to be invited repeatedly.
In an interview with Sanyuka TV, Mayiga addressed the issue, noting that Bobi Wine has in the past been hosted on both CBS FM and BBS TV.
“But we cannot be hosting him every other time,” he said.
The Premier pointed out that other major media stations, such as NBS TV, have also limited his appearances, with Bobi Wine only being hosted once on their platform.
Mayiga questioned why the focus was solely on CBS FM and BBS TV, adding, “Why are people only pressing us about Bobi Wine?”
A Broader Perspective on Media Coverage
Mayiga also mentioned stations like Capital FM, Sanyu FM, NRG, and Galaxy FM, which are popular among youth, but have not hosted Bobi Wine either.
Besides, he noted that CBS and BBS often host other NUP members and leaders.
“Just yesterday, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, (NUP Vice President for Buganda), was on BBS,” he pointed out.
The 2020 Incident and its Aftermath
The absence of Bobi Wine from CBS FM and BBS TV follows a dramatic incident in 2020.
Meddie Nsereko, a senior presenter at CBS FM, revealed in2023 that after Bobi Wine’s appearance on July 5, 2020, the station leadership was so shaken by the events that they decided not to invite him back.
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During the appearance, which took place amid heightened security and growing tension ahead of the 2021 presidential elections, Bobi Wine made inflammatory remarks against President Museveni and top government officials.
Making matters worse, he was escorted to the station by hundreds of supporters who remained outside the gate, leading to a heavy security deployment.
Nsereko described the show as one of the most intense he had ever conducted, expressing concern that the station could be shut down due to the escalating situation.
Following this, it was decided that Bobi Wine would not return to the station.
Despite this, he did make a brief appearance on BBS TV earlier this year, and the station also aired a docu-series about Bobi Wine.
CBS FM was shut down and its license revoked by the government for a full year, from October 2009 for inciting the public in built up to and in the wake of the deadly Kabaka riots.