By Our Reporters.
Global Journalists and Human Rights organisations have condemned Uganda for enacting a draconian Computer Misuse law which violates fundamental human rights.
A cross section of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) affiliates castigated Uganda government for duping nationals with good provisions enshrined in the Constitution that gurantee freedom of expression, Press Freedom, access to information and respect for human rights, but go ahead to siftle and clamp down on Ugandans.
Interntional journalists leaders were reacting to latest developments where President Museveni assented to the infamous Computer Misuse Law.
As a result Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) President Ms Lucy Anyango Ekadu condemned enactment of the law as deliberate move by government to suppress voices of dissent.
She said the Computer Misuse law is not only draconian but contravenes articles 29 of the Ugandan Constitution which gurantees Freedom of Expression and Press Freedom, and also contravenes Article 41 of the same constitution which gurantees the right to Access to Information.
” We largely view the Computer Misuse law as a deliberate and systematic move by government to intimidate citizens, stifle voices of dissent, suppress freedom of expression, curtail access to information and all together muzzle media freedom in the country,” she said.
UJU General Secretary Mr Stephen Ouma Bwire said it is unfortunate that government is becoming increasingly intolerant with the media and divergent views especially critical voices of dissent emanating from the opposition.
” We are going to see impunity growing to unprecedented levels since the “watchdogs” of society will be intimidated and suppressed from their noble duties,” he said.
Mr Wakabi, who was speaking at an International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and UJU Workshop on Digital Recruitment in Kampala, the level of criminality and impunity will grow as liberties are eroded as the media self censor itself while culprits remain at large.
IFJ Africa Director Mr Pa Louis Thomasi noted with dismay enactment of the law saying it could adversely undermine the abilities of the journalists to use their tools to report objectively without fear or favour. ” There is every reason to beleive the new law will have negative impact on journalists and the human rights situation in Uganda,” he said.
Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Mr Erick Odour castigated Ugandan authorities for turning the journalism profession in the country into a nighmare.
He said the Computer Misuse law is a ploy by the government to clampdown on freedom of epression online.
” We are in solidarity with Uganda Journalists Union and all Ugandans in fighting this punitive law that seeks to silence citizens online,” he said.
Journalists Workers Union of Tanzania (JOWUTA) strongly condemned Ugandan authorities for enacting fascist law thta aims at suppressing freedom of expression.
JOWUTA General Secretary Mr Saidi Mmanga reiterated solidarity with Ugandan journalists but hastened to add that the new law is draconian and infringes on the freedom of infortmation and expression in Uganda.
“The new law is draconian and infringes on the freedom of infortmation and expression in Uganda.” he said.
The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) Steering Committee and affiliates expressed consternation in the Ugandan government for “importing” former Ethiopian Prime Minister the late Meles Zenawi’s tyrannical stance on media freedom.
The late Zenawi terrorised Ethiopian journalists and almost officially declared the journalism profession illegal as journalists were forced flee into exile for dear life while several others were arrested and detained incomicado while several were severely tortured.
In October 1992 President Meles Zenawi introduced a draconian Press law which saw 200 Editors and News reporters rounded and detained for several months without trial. Several publications was closed down as proprietors were rounded up and dumped in prisons.
In 2005 the IFJ issued a statement urging the international community to demand for the immediately release of 20 journalists who had been imprisoned in Ethiopia on fabricated charges
Ironically the journalists were arrested for covering anti government riots that followed the November 2005 elections which Prime Minster Meles Zenawi won by 99.9 percent in a flawed electoral process which was dismissed by his detractors as a grossly rigged poll.
The Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association (EFJA) was disbanded and its leaders were charged with treason and imprisoned for advocating for Press Freedom.
EFJA President Mr Kifle Mulat fled Ethiopia after threats on his life and was forced into exile in the United states where he settled for a taxi drivers’ job. Several Ethiopians journalists fled the country to Europea, United States, Australia, Kenya and Uganda, to escape the wrath of the Ehtiopian dictator..
Mr Zenawi was Ethiopian President from 1991 1995 then Prime Minister from 1995 to 2021 when he passed on.
By the time Meles Zenawi died in 2012 he held the sad record of the country with the highest number of imprisoned journalists as well as the country with the highest number of journalists in exile in Africa. At least 800 journalists local and foreign were detained and over 5000 politicians were imprisoned in fabricated charges. His death was celebrated by journalists and human rights actitivists in the world because he had become a menance and enemy number one of the media in the world.
African Journalists said during discussions in their “Whatsapp” group that they are in solidarity with Ugandan Journalists in fighting obnoxious laws. Journalists trade unions and associations’ leaders on the African continent promised to fight the Computeer Misuse law using all available means.
The developments come after a group of 13 journalists and lawyers petitioned the Constitutional Court to nullify new amendments in the Computer Misuse Act on grounds that they are illegal and violate the freedom of expression. They have sued the Attorney General through their lawyers Messrs Peter Arinaitwe and Company Advocates■
