09/10/2025
War at Radio Rukungiri as Joash Muhangi fights colleagues, workers threaten for action
Employees of Radio Rukungiri 96.9fm in Rukungiri district are on the verge of laying down their tools due to alleged poor working conditions under the Programs Manager Joash Muhangi Mwinekabukika.
Radio Rukungiri 96.9fm the voice of development which is the first radio station in the district is owned by the Minister for Security and the Rujumbura County area Member of Parliament Hon. Maj. Gen. (RTD) Jim Katugugu Muhwezi.
According to the sources, radio directors, Minister Jim Muhwezi and his wife Canon Suzan Muhwezi, hired Joash Muhangi Mwinekabukika in July 2024 after they reportedly lost faith in Station Manager Benjamin Kwikiriza, also known as Br. Ben.
When he came, Kabukika held a meeting with staff members and introduced himself as the Programs Manager. To their astonishment, Kabukika then publicly identified himself as the General Manager.
As he took over, Kabukika fired longtime employees Yubu, Byamugisha Ignitious, Isaac Mbaasa, also known as CJ, accountant Babra Namara, and well-known presenter Grace Turyatemba.
Our sources confirmed that these individuals were fired without being paid their seven months salary arriers.
They claim that prior to his arrival, employees met with their boss, Hon. Jim Muhwezi, in April 2024 to demand their seven-month salary arrears, and the Minister agreed to pay them within a short period of time.
They added that the management was paying them a daily allowance of 2,000 shillings.
When he came, Kabukika froze the funds, and as of right now, no action has been taken despite the employees' continued demands.
Kabukika has suspended a minimum of eight employees, including Zac Anthlem, Mika Kamusiime, Robert Rwebita, Nestor Muhumuza, Simon Uganda, Praise Kenyonyozi, and one identified only as Moses, in addition to the employees who were fired, including Philemon Abaasa, the new accountant who replaced Ahumuza Babra.
Since he came, Joash Muhangi blocked all social events established by previous workers including Annual event dubbed Ekirigime Kya Radio Rukungiri which existed for over fifteen years, football matches and other events.
Sources added that Kabukika has been consuming money from the business community to the extent of extorting money from his boss Hon. Jim Muhwezi which was meant for DJ mentions and announcements.
They claim that Kabukika cut off the most popular long-running radio shows, such as the Drive show, Love Zone, hosted by love icon Rhona Desire, Ekyooto, hosted by Grace Turyatemba and Br. Ben, and other weekend shows, which decreased radio listenership.
Joash Muhangi Mwine Kabukika is known to have quit his previous job after using the client's funds for the entire year; this behavior was carried over to his new workplace.
As of now, employees are being intimidated now and then by Kabukika threatening to fire them and bring their replacement.
It is reported that Kabukika left his previous workplace after a fight with a female coworker who was almost his grandchild.
However, this was not enough, Kabukika, the program manager for Radio Rukungiri, went too far and began to disband the once-cooperative Rukungiri district's media fraternity.
In this, he openly attacked Namanya Kakyene Santrinah, the manager of a local radio station based in Rukungiri, during a live radio talk show and the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) subsequently suspended Santrinah.
Employees have now declared that enough is enough and asked the radio's directors to intervene before things get out of hands due to Joash Muhangi Mwine Kabukika's abuse and vile actions.
In conclusion, Kabukika is a liability to the station more than an asset therefore, the Radio is at the verge of collapse.
Keep your eyes open.
