UGANDA

Country Summary

The April presidential election and June's parliamentary balloting unleashed a wave of government repression of the press. And journalists' attempts to cover the country's civil war also tested the limits of press freedom in Uganda. In each instance, journalists faced intimidation, harassment, and physical attack. Members of the ruling and opposition parties and rebel groups accused reporters of biased or false reporting, and misrepresentation. President Yoweri Museveni issued a warning that authorities will arrest journalists for "irresponsible reporting" that endangers national security.

Despite the fact that existing sedition laws directly contradict provisions contained in Uganda's constitution, the Supreme Court legally upheld the controversial 1995 conviction of Haruna Kanaabi, editor of The Shariat. The government used its right of censorship, as well as charges of public alarm and civil defamation carrying exorbitant fines, to silence its critics.

Parliament passed an electronic media bill that defines the terms for setting up private radio and television stations. The legislation also calls for the creation of a broadcasting council, comprised of government officials, to monitor programs aired by private broadcasters and censor those that are deemed unacceptable. Parliament is reportedly considering revising the journalists and press statute of 1995, a draconian body of law that monitors the licensing and conduct of journalists and media houses, but there is as yet no indication of the nature of the changes under consideration.

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