By our Reporter
In a surprising turn of events, celebrated media personality Ibrah K Mukasa has left his thriving career in Uganda behind and sought refuge in Canada. Many wonder why someone with three well-paying jobs would make such a drastic decision. Mukasa had been a prominent figure on Star FM 87.5, Spark TV’s ‘Koona ne Spark TV’ program, and the highly popular YouTube channel ‘Extra Digest – Mugoba Nsonga,’ which enjoyed substantial viewership and earnings.
For years, Mukasa had conducted interviews with various personalities, spanning fields such as sports, entertainment, agriculture, and politics. However, a fateful interview on December 20, 2022, with former Youth Member of Parliament Sarah Babirye Kityo shed light on corruption, scandals, and improprieties within Uganda’s National Council of Sports, implicating its General Secretary, Dr. Bernad Patrick Ogwel.
The repercussions of this interview were swift. On April 18, 2023, Mukasa was summoned to the Central Police Station in Kampala, where he was detained for two days to record a statement regarding corruption allegations at the National Council of Sports. Subsequently, the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) took interest in the matter after watching the interview on NTV News. PAC summoned all involved parties for questioning. File Number (GEF 029 / 2023)
The fallout from PAC’s investigation was significant. On May 17 and 18, 2023, Sarah Babirye Kityo and Moses Muhangi, heads of the Netball Federation and Boxing Federation, respectively, were sent to Luzira Prison. Fearing that he might be the next target after exposing corruption in the National Council of Sports, Mukasa’s life took a dramatic turn. He began receiving threats from unidentified sources, and his YouTube content suffered.
Matters escalated further when Sarah Babirye Kityo was replaced by Brig. Flavia Byekwaso. It was rumored that Mukasa would be arrested in early August, and a tip off prompted him to leave Uganda. He departed via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, to avoid potential arrest at Entebbe Airport.
Ibrah K Mukasa’s reluctance to engage in political campaigns, notably with the First Son Muhoozi’s presidential bid, further strained his situation. He faced mounting pressure from his workplace at Star FM, a state-owned radio station. In Uganda, many bloggers have been influenced or coerced by the government due to financial incentives and threats.
Ibrah K Mukasa now joins the ranks of numerous Ugandans who have been forced into exile by the NRM regime. These include Dr. Stellah Nyanzi in Germany, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija in Germany, and the late Dr. Aggrey Kiyingi in Australia. As they seek safety from the pressures and challenges in their homeland.
