Police in Jinja City have ordered Busoga One Radio staff and sound technicians to stop preparations for the station’s annual musical event, Endingito ya Busoga One Radio, at the Source of the Nile Agricultural Show Grounds.
The blockade against the express instructions of Major-General (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, who on Friday explicitly ordered Police to allow the concert to proceed.
Gen Otafiire is the Internal Affairs minister, the line ministry responsible for Uganda Police Force.
Anti-riot officers arrived while stage construction and sound setup were underway, instructing workers to vacate the venue immediately.
The intervention reignited tensions between the radio station and Jinja City security officials.
Earlier this week, Jinja Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Richard Gulume Balyaino had ordered the postponement of the concert, initially scheduled for December 7, citing security concerns linked to the election period.
In his letter, the RCC referenced Joint Intelligence Committee reports warning of “potential risks” associated with holding the event during elections.
The directive followed deliberations by the City Security Committee, attended by the RPC Kiira and the RISO North Busoga.
Busoga One Radio, owned by former Jinja South East MP Paul Mwiru, formally challenged the cancellation, arguing that it was politically motivated and economically damaging.
The complaint, Reference BOR/E/2/2025, was forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs.
In a strongly worded response, Otafiire questioned the rationale for blocking the event solely because it coincided with elections.
“The event should be allowed to take place. In this political period, political statements are not banned and we must be seen to allow political space,” the minister wrote to the Inspector General of Police, directing authorities to ensure the concert proceeds without obstruction.
Despite this directive, police proceeded to halt preparations, creating confusion and frustration among organizers.
Busoga One FM Managing Director Paul Mwiru condemned the RCC’s actions, describing them as politically charged and economically harmful.
“Many informal workers—including food vendors, bouncers, DJs, and musicians—depend on this event for their annual income. Some had already booked space and invested money in stock. Stopping it will cause financial losses,” he said.
Mwiru also noted that alternative events, including the Annual Fish Festival and the Busoga Masaza Cup, were allowed to proceed on the same day, raising questions about selective enforcement.
Some staff at Busoga One FM allege political interference, claiming that NRM politicians in Jinja are using security measures to block the event because Mwiru is contesting the Jinja South East parliamentary seat on a National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket.
With the Internal Affairs Minister’s directive now public, the station is expected to continue preparations while discussions between police and the city administration persist.
As Uganda’s election period deepens, Otafiire’s intervention has sparked debate over political space, administrative authority, and the role of security agencies during sensitive periods.
Whether the Endingito ya Busoga One Radio concert will proceed smoothly remains uncertain, but the clash has thrust a regional entertainment event into the center of national political discourse.