Kabakumba radio equipment stolen

Police are investigating the theft of equipment belonging to a Masindi-based FM radio station owned by Bujenje county Member of Parliament Kabakumba Masiko (pictured). File photo 

In Summary

Stolen. Police are investigating the theft of equipment belonging to a Masindi-based FM radio station.

Masindi. Police in Masindi District are investigating circumstances under which equipment belonging to King’s Broadcasting Services (KBS), a local FM radio station, were vandalised and stolen by unidentified people on Christmas day.

The radio, which is owned by Bujenje county Member of Parliament Kabakumba Masiko, was off air by press time. Detectives and staff at the radio said some of the equipment stolen included a studio transmitter link, an exciter and the backup system.
All the transmission equipment was stolen from the rented Airtel mast at Kigulya Hill, where other security installations are also located.
The KBS station manager, Mr William Rwebembera, said the stolen equipment are worth more than Shs25 million. Asked if it was an inside job, Mr Rwebembera said he could not point the finger at any body.

On Christmas eve, KBS was temporarily switched off by some unknown person when Ms Kabakumba was in studio campaigning for President Museveni. Kabakumba was suspended from the NRM party leadership in mid-December by the Masindi District NRM executive committee for standing as an independent candidate yet she is the district NRM Chairperson. She denies any wrong doing and insists she is still the legitimate NRM chairperson.

Mr Tadeo Tugume, 25, the security guard who was on duty was reportedly beaten by the suspected thugs before they carried him about 10 kilometres away and dumped him at Kyarukunya village in Miirya Sub-county.
Mr Tugume claimed the thugs called him by name and asked him to open only to be grabbed by the two thugs armed with a gun.
He said the thugs told him they had come for radio equipment.

Masindi District Police Commander Bosco Bakashaba said he has dispatched a team of police detective to investigate the matter.
By press time, Mr Tadeo Tugume, a security guard employed by Airtel, and Mr William Rwebembera, the KBS station manager, had recorded statement at Masindi Central Police Station.

the radio scandal
Ms Kabakumba Masiko in December 2011 resigned her posts as minister of presidency and Kampala City after being accused of stealing a transmitter and mast belonging to Uganda Broadcasting Corporation. She, however, denied the accusation labelled against her as MPs made frantic efforts to censure her.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com