Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Uganda

Abstract

Without the free flow of information and ideas, the public cannot form opinions and take decisions about the governments it elects, about the behavior of its representatives." The media not only acts as a watchdog against abuses by authorities or large corporate bodies they also empower citizens with the information they require to exercise their democratic rights. In this way the media can cultivate good governance by enabling a dialogue between the public and their elected officials. Additionally, the existence of a gemine, editorially independent Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) reinforces the open dialogue and provides the society with diverse programming of educational, cultural and scientific character, in addition to news, entertainment and sports. Being at the service of the public also entails the responsibility to mirror society as a whole, to give voice to minorities and marginalized groups and to stimulate dialogue among all the different groups in the society.2 The first decade in the 21" century has witnessed two major constitutional court rulings in Uganda on the publication of false news and sedition. The rulings have reduced Article 19. The Global Campaign for Free Expression, Putting rights above reputations, an editorial in Rights vs Reputations: Campaign against the abuse of defamation and insult laws, an undated campaign kit. United Nations Education, Scientific and cultural Organization (UNESCO. The Potential of Media: Dialogue mutual understanding and reconciliation, World. Freedom Day Qatar 2-3 May (2009) democracy. During the activities to mark the 2009 World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations Education. Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noted "the great potential of media to foster the health of society when it respects and represents diversity of voices." It also noted that "the media has a demonstrated ability in fostering mutual understanding by communicating across divides, thus bringing competing narratives together into a shared story." To realize this potential and also consolidate the gains from the two court rulings, journalists, media houses and associations, and civil society nationwide need to coalesce under the common cause of defending the endangered public space. on the pile of ammunition at the state's disposal often used to curtail the right to freedom of expression and information in the country since the colonial era. Also, in 1993, the state relinquished its monopoly on broadcasting licensing 264 FM radio stations (212 operational) and 56 TV stations (46 operational) by 2011.' While in 2007. the state owned Radio Uganda and Uganda Television were merged into a broadcasting corporation and tasked to provide the hitherto non-existent public broadcasting. Together with the opening up of political space to multi-party dispensation in 2005, the developments offered the nation yet another opportunity to institutionalize civil liberties and political freedoms. But even as the country celebrates this progress, the threats to free expression and access to information still remain. Criminal defamation, sections of the anti- sectarianism, anti-terrorism laws, electronic media, and journalists and press Acts still provide the state with the infrastructure with which to limit unnecessarily freedom of expression and information. Together with the growing influence of business interests on the media, the threats continue to pose major challenges to the campaign for open dialogue, democratic rights and good governance in Uganda. Concerns of this nature continue to keep human rights defenders in and outside the country on their toes in the search for ways to protect and promote the open space where divergent ideas can flourish and foster democracy. During the activities to mark the 2009 World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations Education. Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noted "the great potential of media to foster the health of society when it respects and represents diversity of voices." It also noted that "the media has a demonstrated ability in fostering mutual understanding by communicating across divides, thus bringing competing narratives together into a shared story." To realize this potential and also consolidate the gains from the two court rulings, journalists, media houses and associations, and civil society nationwide need to coalesce under the common cause of defending the endangered public space.