UCC probes Zahara Totto, Shamim Mayanja lash

Mrs. Kaggwa ordered the Uganda Media Council (UMC) to look into the bitter exchange between the two ladies, with a focus on the comments made live on air by Totto against Mayanja.

“I am roping in our sister agency (Uganda Media Council) which regulates the conduct and promotes good ethical standards and discipline of journalists,” said the UCC boss in response to complaints raised on social media against Totto.

Shamim Mayanja aka Zubeda Byantalo pulse uganda

While doing her “Uncut” show, Totto, real name Zahara Nalumansi made disparaging remarks about Mayanja’s attire, describing her headscarf as “rugs”

“That’s just rugs,” Toto remarked in reference to the blue scarf spotted by the fellow journalist, comedienne, and actress.

“I hate that girl because she made ugly false allegations against me.”

Mayanja, upon hearing this, responded with matching vitriol, attacking Toto’s looks and her children.

In a scathing Facebook post on Monday evening, Mayanja called out the Sanyuka TV host and DJ for “having fatherless babies” and spotting a “struggling body.”

Mayanja's post pulse uganda

The demeaning exchange between the two women was widely condemned especially in the media circles.

Journalist Gabriel Buule, who reported the matter to UCC, accused Totto of “promoting hatred” on live television and called upon the communications regulatory body to protect journalism by taking action against her.

“...it is unfair that a reporter willingly covered an event and the presenter chose to passionately ridicule the source using profanity and promoting hatred. We call upon UCC to act and promote journalism,” Buule posted.

The Uganda Media Council has yet to publicly comment on the matter.