Snake Makes Radio Appearance--News Program Signs Off

Radio Uganda had a late-breaking development on its evening newscast, but the announcer didn’t stay on the air to let his listeners know what happened.

Veteran newscaster Francis Bbaale was winding up the 10 p.m. news bulletin last Wednesday when a 5-foot snake slithered into his broadcast booth, the Ministry of Information said Friday.

“Oh my God . . . good night!” the excited newsman told listeners just before the radio station went off the air without explanation, four minutes before the scheduled end of the 15-minute broadcast.

Station employees killed the snake. They did not say what kind it was.

Programming resumed Thursday morning, but officials didn’t explain the interrupted broadcast until Friday.