Uganda Communications Commission has finally squeezed and suspended Top TV’s unethical Nakintu Lule for rubbing salt in Beauty Queen Oliver Nakakande ‘s fresh wounds and shooting down balloon.
This after a video clip of Joan Lule a.k.a Iron Lady went viral on social media while yelling and unapologetically smearing pupu on Miss Uganda Nakakande live on set.
Lule asked the rather remorseful Nakakande how it felt when she didn’t bring home the Miss Universe crown. “…you lost..how does it feel being a loser?”, she paused a question, leaving her at loss for words.
Although Lule feigned ignorance of ant breach claiming she was within character, the Commission went ahead and pulled a plug on the controversial show. They announced the lengthy suspension of the program through its official Twitter feed.
Below is their tweet:
The complainant alleges that during the broadcast of the show “Cocktail”, the presenter or host was unprofessional, failed to meet journalistic principles or ethics, and thus breached the broadcasting standards,” the UCC Ag. Executive Director Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo wrote on 22 April 2020.
The complainant further alleges that during the show, Ms. Nakintu Joan Lule as a host of the program was unfair, lacked objectivity and impartiality required of a presenter.
The Commission has accordingly commenced investigations into the conduct of Top Television, invoking sections 5(1) (b), (x), (j), 31,45 and 41of the Uganda Communications Act 2013.
To facilitate the investigation, the station is required to submit a recording of the said programme, alongside the programme script indicating the theme and topic of discussion that was covered.
The station must also provide proof of requisite qualifications and registration of the producer, programmes director and host of the programme as required under Sections 5 and 27 of the Press and Journalist Act. In addition, the Commission has directed that broadcasting of the programme be suspended until after the investigation has been concluded, in order to mitigate the risk of a further breach.
As UCC awaits an explanation within five days, Top Television has moved to repair the damage caused by its broadcast, with the moderator apologising on air, and the station issuing an apology of its own through a press statement in which it admitted that the presenter had “exhibited unprofessional conduct”.
Enock Mugabi aka iWitness is a Journalist, Seasoned Writer and Music Analyst with a passion for sports.
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