By Mulengera Reporters
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has shut down 99.5FM Cheza FM, a powerful radio station based in Lukaya, Kalungu District, for operating without a valid broadcasting license, in a move that directly affects a senior official in the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) led by Singer Eddy Kenzo.
The station is owned by Micheal Lubambula, the Chief Executive Officer of the federation, which is headed by Kenzo as President and deputized by Sheebah Karungi as Vice President.
According to UCC officials, the enforcement action followed multiple failed attempts to bring the station into compliance with national broadcasting regulations. Authorities revealed that this was the third time an enforcement team had been dispatched to the premises, with the previous two attempts proving unsuccessful after officers found the station locked and inaccessible.
Cheza FM operates from a conspicuous property in Lukaya, described as a fancy house still under construction, enclosed by a high perimeter wall and secured with a guarded gate. The station had reportedly continued broadcasting despite lacking the mandatory operational license required under Ugandan communications law.
The latest operation was led by Senior Legal Enforcement Officer Dennis Okalang, who arrived at the station at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Thursday 9 April 2026. Accompanied by a team of technical and armed security personnel, Okalang gained access to the premises and found only two staff members present: Station Manager Patrick Kawooya and Station Secretary Mariam Nakalema. They both looked relatively young employees.
During an on-site interrogation, Kawooya acknowledged that the station had been operating without a license. He told the enforcement team that he had repeatedly raised concerns with Lubambula regarding the station’s legal status. According to Kawooya, Lubambula had consistently assured him that the licensing process was underway.
Kawooya further disclosed that in February this year, Lubambula showed him documents bearing the UCC logo, which appeared to indicate that efforts to secure a license were in progress. However, no official authorization had been issued or presented to the station staff since then.
“I have been engaging my boss on the licensing issue, and he kept promising that it was being worked on,” Kawooya explained during the interaction. “At one point, he showed me some papers, and I believed the process was ongoing.”
In an attempt to intervene during the enforcement operation, Kawooya placed several calls to Lubambula. After initially failing to reach him, Lubambula eventually returned the call approximately ten minutes later. During the phone conversation, he reportedly informed Okalang that he was in Kampala and in the process of meeting UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo, whom he described as a friend, in a bid to resolve the licensing issue.
However, Okalang made it clear that the enforcement action would proceed regardless of any pending discussions. He informed Lubambula that the station had already been switched off and that key broadcasting equipment was being confiscated. Lubambula was directed to follow up on the matter at UCC headquarters in Bugolobi if he wished to recover the seized items.
Following the phone exchange, Okalang addressed Kawooya directly, issuing a stern warning about the legal risks of operating an unlicensed broadcasting facility. He emphasized that under Ugandan law, both the owners and operators of illegal stations are liable for prosecution.
“The law does not permit anyone to operate a broadcasting station without a license,” Okalang explained. “Once we find you here, actively managing and running such a station, it becomes an offence punishable by law, regardless of whether you are the owner or an employee.”
He further cautioned that enforcement actions can escalate beyond equipment confiscation to include arrests and prosecution of those found on the premises. Okalang referenced previous cases where individuals involved in illegal broadcasting operations were tracked down, arrested, and successfully prosecuted, even when station owners initially attempted to evade authorities.
In a decisive move, the enforcement team proceeded to dismantle and confiscate several critical pieces of equipment used in the station’s operations. These included a mixer, three high-powered microphones, a computer monitor along with its central processing unit, a transmitter, and an antenna.
Lubambula, who has previously attempted to enter elective politics, has contested in several elections, including the 2006 general elections for Member of Parliament in Bukomansimbi, the 2008 parliamentary by-election in the same district, and the 2021 race for Nyendo Sub-Division City Councilor under the National Unity Platform ticket. Despite his lack of success in politics, he has gained prominence in Uganda’s music industry through his leadership role at the national musicians’ federation.
By press time, Lubambula had not issued an official public statement regarding the closure of his radio station.
The UCC reiterated its commitment to enforcing compliance within the communications sector, warning that any entity operating without proper authorization would face similar consequences. The Commission urged broadcasters across the country to adhere strictly to licensing requirements, noting that failure to do so not only undermines regulatory frameworks but also exposes individuals to serious legal repercussions.
The shutdown of Cheza FM marks a significant enforcement action involving a high-profile figure within Eddy Kenzo’s federation, highlighting the regulator’s increasing resolve to clamp down on illegal broadcasting operations across Uganda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
