Uganda journalists, activists challenge controversial internet law in Constitutional Court News
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Uganda journalists, activists challenge controversial internet law in Constitutional Court

A group of activists, journalists and lawyers in Uganda Monday petitioned the Constitutional Court of Uganda to overturn the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022 which criminalise specific uses of the internet in the country. The Act was signed into law last week by President Yoweri Museveni.

The activists contend that the amendments violate the right to free expression, the right to practise one’s profession, trade, or business (such as investigative journalism) and the right to access information. The petitioners request that the court rules sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Act violate the right to a fair trial, freedom of expression and access to information, among other rights.

Alternative Digitalk Programmes Manager Arnold Anthony Mukose, a signatory to the petition, stated that the new law has significant ramifications for his rights as a journalist. According to Mukose, it is impractical for editors to ensure that the content streamed and shared during live broadcasts does not ridicule, degrade, or demean anyone because meaning attached varies from one person to another. Mukose believes the law “is ambiguous, vague, brought in bad faith and politically motivated.”

The legislation makes it a crime to publish, transmit, or distribute information online that is hateful, unsolicited, misleading or malicious. It also forbids disseminating information that could be used to degrade or mock another individual, group of people, tribe, religion, race, or gender, as well as children, without the permission of their guardians. However, the petitioners believe the amendments unreasonably restrict free speech and claim it will be used to stifle opposition and suppress free speech by unfairly targeting those who have criticised the government.

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