SECTOR 1

simply do not know what could happen when they speak freely. This fear is
heightened further because of proposed legislation such as The Regulation of
Interception of Communications Bill 2007. This proposed law aims to permit the
government to intercept and monitor phone calls, email, letters and any other such
communications.
The government is also attempting to control the production of music and has
named some musicians for allegedly inciting the public to violence during the
September 2009 riots. In a proposed law on intellectual property rights, the
government now seeks to license musicians. Already there is an element of
censorship: before a song is released, it has to go through the censor’s office.
All these actions indicate that the government is growing increasingly nervous
ahead of elections scheduled for 2011 and faced with opponents who are now even
more outspoken than in the past.
The people, however, are still talking if only because they “have not reached the
level of whispering yet”. The government’s nervous reaction to free speech could
well be a response to the citizens’ increased assertion of their rights. Indeed,
public debate has continued on
the legitimacy of the government
actions.

The people ,... “have
not reached the level of
whispering yet”.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator.

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score: 			

1.8

(2007: 2.3)

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010

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