Lucky pop song unlucky for radio in Uganda

SECURITY officials in Uganda have banned radio stations from playing a song by local musician Lucky Otim which criticises the government – on the grounds that it is “misleading”.

The song attacks ministers and members of parliament from the sub-region, particularly opposition converts to the ruling National Resistance Movement, Uganda’s Daily Monitor reported yesterday.

The song Fire Produces Ash has become a hit with the public with its no-holds-barred lyrics THE number of illegal immigrants who died after their boat sank off the southeastern coast of Tunisia on Sunday has risen to 112, according to the UN’s migration agency.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) updated the death toll on its Twitter account yesterday.

The ill-fated boat was packed with about 180 migrants, including 80 from making it an overnight sensation on FM radio stations.

The lyrics mock deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah, land minister Betty Amongi, her husband and Lira municipality MP Jimmy Akena, state international affairs minister Okello-Oryem, Kitgum municipality MP Beatrice Anywar and her Kilak counterpart Michael Ocula.

It frames the politicians as turncoats and the artist sings that ex-presidents from northern Uganda such as General Tito Okello Lutwa, Idi Amin and Milton other African countries, local media had reported earlier.

A total of 68 illegal immigrants – 60 Tunisians and eight foreigners – were rescued by the coastguard. The spokesperson of the Interior Ministry, Khalifa Chibani, said on Monday that Tunisian security forces had intercepted eight individuals involved in planning the trip off the island Obote would choose to die again if they were resurrected to find their protégés hobnobbing with President Yoweri Museveni.

Minister Okello-Oryem and Jimmy Akena are the sons of General Lutwa and Obote, respectively.

While one of the targeted ministers claimed not to be offended, others declined to comment.

Kitgum district internal security officer Lawrence Asiimwe said any radio station found playing the song would be closed. – African News Agency (ANA) of Kerkennah on Saturday evening. Tunisia has become an important new route for migrants trying to reach Europe in the past year, and Kerkennah is one of the main illegal gateways.

According to IOM, since the beginning of this year, about 1 910 Tunisian migrants have reached Italy by sea. – Xinhua/African News Agency (ANA)