Ugandan radio station goes off air ahead of Bobi Wine interview

A Ugandan radio station that was Monday set to host the country’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, went off air before the interview, local media reported.

Kyagulanyi, a fierce critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, leads the National Unity Platform (NUP) and was scheduled to appear on Endigyito Radio’s mid-morning show.

The Daily Monitor newspaper reports that after Kyangulanyi entered the FM station at about 11:45 a.m., the signal went off to the confusion of expectant listeners.

The station’s manager said they were receiving signals even though the station was actually off-air.

“I just got similar reports that the radio was off but at the radio station, we were receiving the signals. Secondly, the online channel was on but I got a number of calls from Kazo and elsewhere that the radio was off,” Bonny Maridadi told the publication.

Kyangulanyi, 41, has suffered similar incidents in the past and government agents have blocked him from appearing on radio before.

Addressing a rally in the western city of Mbarara later in the day, the opposition leader accused 78-year-old Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, of intimidation and wanting to keep people in the dark.

“Museveni never wanted us here because he does not want us to tell you the truth. When I was on the radio, they switched it off... because they do not want you to listen to what I am saying but because of your power and the power of God we are here,” the Daily Monitor quoted Kyangulanyi as saying.

The city’s commissioner denied orchestrating the blackout.

The Uganda Communications Commission which regulates broadcasting in the country also said it was not aware of any signal interference.

Kyagulanyi came second in the January 2021 general election that saw Museveni win a sixth term. The opposition leader has often been targeted by security forces.

He is currently on a tour of different parts of the country to strengthen his party’s grassroots structures in preparation for the next polls in 2026.