Tanzanian Association Oslo

Uganda gets tough on

pornographic materials

Ephraim Kasozi

Kampala

Anyone found guilty of producing, broadcasting or trafficking pornographic material will faces 10 years in jail if a new Bill proposed by the government becomes law.

The Bill also proposes a monetary fine not exceeding five hundred currency points (about Shs10 million), or – in some cases – both the fine and jail sentence – for anyone convicted of the offence. “Where the offender is a corporate body or a business, it is liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand currency points (about Shs100 million) or imprisonment of the directors or proprietors or both for a period not exceeding 10 years or both,” reads part of the Bill.

The proposed law will affect publishers, broadcasters, proprietors of any business dealing with computers, telephones or other medium for transmitting electronic information. It will also affect proprietors of places dealing in leisure or entertainment, bookshop owner, dealer in photography, newsprint or magazine dealer, vendor, importer or exporter.

Addressing journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala yesterday, the State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Dr James Nsaba Buturo, said the Bill is ready to be presented before Parliament shortly after MPs returns from recess.

“Any Internet service provider who, by using or enforcing the means or procedure recommended by the commission to control pornography, permits to be uploaded or down loaded through their service any content of pornographic nature commits an offence,” reads part of the minister’s statement.

Dr Buturo said, “Where a publisher or broadcaster or Internet content-developer or in telephone related business or an Internet service provider commits an offence, the court convicting the person may for repeated offending, by order, suspend or stop the operations of the business used in the commission of the offence.”

“With the state of affairs and growing concern expressed by parents across Uganda, Cabinet directed both my office and that of the Attorney General to prepare an anti-pornography Bill. The Bill seeks to repeal and replace sections of the penal code with new and comprehensive legislation capable of controlling and suppressing obscene matter today and in future,” Dr Buturo said.

The Minister said the Bill is necessary because of the rapid social and technological changes worldwide in production and trafficking of pornographic matter, which he said has proven to be extremely harmful to individuals, families as well as communities.

He said advocates of immorality have become bolder and are extending boundaries of immorality, adding that they have been emboldened by the government’s perceived lack of resolve as well as having weak laws. “Propelled by greed and money, proponents of immorality are wrecking social havoc with vigilance that is leaving many Ugandans both fearful and hurtful. It is as if these deviants are on a mission to change and corrupt Ugandans with values which our societies have always regarded as repugnant and beyond levels of common decency,” he said.

The minister said the Bill also proposed the formation of an anti-pornography commission to enforce early detection, suppression, prohibition and prosecution of its promoters. According to Dr Buturo, the proposed law would also subject people who obstruct law enforcement officers to a five year jail term.

Courtsey of Daily Monitor of Uganda