Uganda President’s Office
Fax: 256 41 346 102
Email: aak@statehouse.go.ug

Uganda Broadcasting Council Secretariat
Tel.: 256 41 251 452
Fax.: 256 41 250 612
Email: info@broadcastug.com 

23 September 2009

 

Call for ensuring freedom of expression in Uganda

We, the undersigned organisations, are concerned about the government of Uganda’s move to cripple freedom of expression in the country. The recent events in Uganda are a clear violation of the freedom of expression, established by Article 29 of the Uganda Constitution and Article 19 of the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

The move to restrict the freedom of expression follows the government’s refusal to allow the King of Buganda Kingdom to visit his subjects in Kayunga district. This was followed by widespread protests. In response to these protests the Broadcasting Council, a body responsible for regulating electronic media in Uganda, closed down FM 4 radio stations to wit Radio Sapencia, Radio Two (Akaboozi), Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) and Suubi FM. The Broadcasting Council blamed the radios for mobilizing masses for demonstration and promoting hatred in their programmes. The same Council moved on to put a ban on 3 radio and TV show hosts from hosting TV and radio programmes. Another ban was placed on the popular open talk shows popularly known as Bimeza on grounds that they are illegal.

The police on the other hand arrested journalist Kalundi Serumaga over allegations that he made seditious statements on a TV program. Mr. Serumaga was arrested by plain clothed men who detained him in an unknown place before he was later taken to police. Police charged him with sedition. 

The closure of the radio stations violates Article 29 of the Uganda Constitution and Article 19 of the UN Convention on Civil Political Rights which provides for freedom of expression and includes freedom of the press and other media. The move to ban open talk shows violates the freedom of association, expression and the right to participate in peaceful activities to influence the policies of the government through civic organizations, established under Article 38 of the Uganda Constitution. 

Lastly the charging of journalist Kalundi Serumaga is one of the moves by the government to use laws to clamp down media freedom. The Uganda law on sedition gives the government draconian powers to arrest and prosecute journalists who raise the government’s ire, as demonstrated in the above case.

We condemn the Uganda government’s actions to restrict free expression and urge the local authorities to abide by the national and international obligations in safeguarding freedom of expression. 

 Sincerely, 

HURINET-Uganda 

Article 19, Kenya and East Africa  

The Human Rights House Foundation, Norway

The Belarusian Human Rights House in exile in Vilnius (Lithuania) 

Russian Research Centre for Human Rights (on behalf of the following NGOs):

–    Human Rights Network Group
–    Independent Psychiatric Association of the Russian Federation
–    Moscow Centre for Prison Reform
–    Moscow Helsinki Group
–    Mother’s Right Foundation
–    Non-violence International
–    Right of the Child
–    Right to Live and have Civil Dignity
–    Social Partnership Foundation
–    Union of the Committees of Soldiers’ Mothers of the Russian Federation

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Poland

Human Rights House in Azerbaijan (on behalf of the following NGOs):

– Legal Education Society
– Society for Humanitarian Research
– Association for Protection of Women’s Rights 

Human Rights House in Croatia (on behalf of the following NGOs):

– B.a.b.e. Women’s Human Rights Group

Human Rights House Skopje (on behalf of the following NGOs):

–  Association for Democratic Initiatives (ADI)
–  The First Children’s Embassy in the World – "Megjashi"
–  Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia
–  Macedonian Women’s Rights Centre (MWRC) – Shelter Centre
–  Polio Plus – Movement Against Disability

Human Rights House Sarajevo (on behalf of the following NGOs):

–   Association of Female Citizens "Renaissance"
–   Foundation CURE
–   Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
–   Regional Co-ordinator for Youth Groups
–   Serb Civic Council – Movement for Equality – The Council of the Sarajevo Canton
–   Woman and Society Centre

Human Rights Centre, Georgia

Armenian Helsinki Association

Copies have been sent to:  

  • UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders
  • UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression
  • African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
  • The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • The Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Norwegian Parliament
  • Human Rights House Network