A coalition of Ugandan human rights groups and lawyers filed yesterday (17) an appeal with the Constitutional Court, against a new law that they say restricts freedom of expression on the Internet, especially for journalists and opposition activists.
Nine organizations, including the world's leading human rights non-governmental organization (NGO), Uganda – Chapter Four – a former opposition leader in parliament and three lawyers are calling for the new version of the 2011 computer misuse law, signed last month by President Yoweri Museveni, to be declared “null and void ”.
Thirteen organizations (media, NGOs, among others) had filed a petition on 17 October to invalidate this legislation, described as “draconian” (severe) by Amnesty International (AI). Your appeal has not yet been examined.
The law, which aims to regulate the sharing of information online, even if it is private, without the consent of those concerned, provides for penalties ranging from tens of millions of Ugandan shillings (several thousand euros) in fines to seven years in prison.
The Government says it is necessary to protect children, limit hate speech and prevent the spread of “malicious information”.
The coalition of petitioners, on the other hand, denounces a framework that is “vague and ambiguous (…) inconsistent with the principle of criminal responsibility”, and which could be used against opponents.
Chapter Four acting executive director Anthony Masake said the new law's "strict and vague licensing rules" mean journalists will never know when they are breaking the law by gathering information.
“We know that offenses such as 'offensive communication' have been used effectively to silence the opposition and target people who express politically sensitive views or press for government accountability,” he added.
In recent years, many activists have been prosecuted under the 2011 law, including for “offensive communication” against leaders.
For years, human rights groups have denounced the government of President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, for its repression of civil society, lawyers, journalists and opposition political activists.
During the previous 2021 presidential elections, in which Museveni was elected to a sixth consecutive term, journalists were attacked, lawyers and several opposition figures were arrested.
Uganda ranks 132nd (out of 180) on the 2022 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by the journalists' rights NGO Reporters Without Borders.
