NBS TV’s Thursday night Frontline political talk show came to an abrupt end when the producer cut what would have been a very unfortunate live incident.
There was an altercation between Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo that was cut as Ofwono charged for Lukwago.
Lukwago was later to take to Twitter to inform the public of what happened when the cameras stopped rolling.
“Short of words to explain what has happened to me at the NBS TV Frontline. Horrible, despicable!!. Fellow Ugandans, it’s horrible. My only prayer is that I get out of this place safely!” he said.
Lukwago says he was assaulted by Ofwono.
The genesis of the altercation was a war of words as FDC’s Lukwago accused Ofwono’s NRM party of not having won the Soroti East MP by-election fairly. Earlier in the day, the Electoral Commission had declared NRM’s Herbert Edmund Ariko winner, having polled 9,407 votes with FDC’s Moses Attan getting 8,771.
“Shut up. Shut up. This man likes shouting. You can shout and we push you out of here,” Ofwono said while pointing at Lukwago, who was interjecting his argument.
“I can push you out of here Lukwago,” Ofwono charged.
“Yes I know you have the powers … You have ever shot somebody dead,” Lukwago said as Ofwono got off his seat and attacked him.
The producers cut the show.
Lukwago was referring to a 2004 incident when Ofwono, who was then Director of Information at the Movement Secretariat, shot and killed one Geoffrey Lubega, who was suspected of stealing vehicle spare parts outside Kampala Parents School.
Ofwono recorded a statement at CID saying he only shot after a guard that had fired at the suspect and the suspect was running away.
Human rights activists accused Ofwono of extra-judicial killing. He was never prosecuted for the incident.