African Media Barometer UGANDA 2012 Summary Uganda’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, including freedom of the media. In addition, Article 14 (1) of the Constitution gives every citizen the right of access to information held by the state. However repressive laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act (2002); Press and Journalist Act of 2000 and the Regulation of the Interception of Communications Act of 2010 negate these freedoms. Since the last AMB in 2010, a number of other restrictive laws have also been drafted such as the Public Order Management Bill (2011) which seeks to regulate the conduct of public meetings as well as discussion of issues at such meetings and the 2010 Press and Journalists Amendment Bill intended to enforce annual registration and licensing of newspapers by the statutory Media Council. The above laws and other state measures continue to worsen the conditions necessary for the practice of freedom of speech and have had a great impact on journalistic practice in Uganda. State surveillance structures such as the Resident District Commissioners, Gombolola1 Internal Security Officers (GISO’s) and the District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) continue to create a climate of fear among journalists as well as potential information sources, resulting in increasing cases of self-censorship. A disturbing trend of self-censorship through reportage of social rather than political issues leading to the downplaying of important issues is emerging. For instance, the anti-government protests that took place towards the end of 2010 and in early 2011 were barely given ample airtime by some radio stations because of fear of victimization. However, at the same time there is seemingly a new-found boldness among the populace that has found expression in campaigns such as the May 2011 ’Walk to Work’ organised to protest the government’s apparent inaction in the face of rising inflation, high youth unemployment, corruption and escalating food and fuel prices. Government policy and regulations remain rigid with regards to expanding spaces for public deliberation. Both the Electronic Media Act of 1996 and the Uganda Communications Regulatory Authority Bill that looks set to replace it, focus on the mechanics of broadcasting regulation – the establishment and functions of the regulator and the issuing of licenses – and make little reference to the kind of media landscape regulation is supposed to create. The three tiers of broadcasting provided for in the 2002 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and developed by the erstwhile Broadcasting Council in 2004 are yet to be implemented. Despite 1 Gombolola means Sub County. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2012 7