Kampala,
2nd/July/2012; the Ugandan government is set to
re-introduce the widely criticized Press
and Journalist amendment bill 2010 which seeks to erode away media freedom in
Uganda.
The Director of
Information and National guidance at the Office of the Prime Minister, Simon
Mayende revealed this during a meeting with Human Rights Network for
Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) which took place last week.
“We are in advanced
stages of consulting with the major stakeholders over the Press and Journalist
Amendment Bill 2010. We are beginning with a media consultative workshop due on
August 05 2012. It is for government ministries, departments and
agencies focusing on public relations officers, communication officers and
information officers. This process will help us come up with a proper document
to send to cabinet and later table in parliament.” Mayende revealed.
He said that the media
which the primary beneficiary of this draft bill would be consulted at a later
stage, adding that the district information officers were not invited to this
consultative meeting due to lack of funds.
The proposed changes
have been criticized by the local journalism fraternity, questioning the motive
behind it and predicted that, if passed, the law would make it hard for
journalists to operate freely.
In addition, various
groups of professional journalists across Africa and International human rights
bodies have criticised Uganda's draft press law, saying it would make it even
harder to practice independent journalism.
They argue that the
proposals would enable manipulation of licensing and registration since it
entrusts the media management and control into the hands of minister’s appointees
who are the majority on the council. The minister would appoint the chairman
and secretary of the council in addition to six of the 12 members.
Critics have argued
that the bill would increase state control over media houses through setting up
regulatory mechanisms which are aimed at muzzling the media. Some provisions
seek to reduce the participation of professionals in the control and discipline
of journalists and puts such a role in the hands political appointees.
The Bill provides for a
person to prove that he/she has technical capacity before he/she is licensed to
run a newspaper such a move is intended to limit the number of new entrants in
the print industry and violates the freedom of speech and press as set out
under article 29(1)(a) and (b) of the Uganda constitution and article 20 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Under the bill, a
newspaper could also lose its licence if it published material that the Media
Council deems harmful to national security, stability, unity, the relationship
with friendly countries or material that amounts to "economic
sabotage".
HRNJ-Uganda believes
that this tendency of criminalizing critical reporting on such public issues is
directly a veiled attack on freedom of expression. So, the government should
work to professionalize the media rather controlling it. And if passed in it is
current draft form, the media is headed for tougher times ahead.
For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for
Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda),
Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp.
St. Marcelino Pre. School,
P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala, Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627
E-mail:
news@hrnjuganda.org,humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org ,BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
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