By Halima Athumani
KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) – The Ugandan government on Thursday issued an order to all media organs to immediately stop covering opposition activities.
Addressing reporters, Jim Muhwezi, the minister for information and national guidance, said, “The cabinet has directed that all live broadcast media coverage of the activities of the defiance campaign organized by Dr. Kizza Besigye and his cohorts should stop forthwith.”
Muhwezi warned, “Any media houses that continue offering live coverage of the so-called defiance campaign risk having their broadcasting licenses revoked.”
He added, “The opposition can hold a press conference. If they talk about defiance don’t report about it; edit it out, otherwise we will come for you.”
Defending the government move, he said, “Whether this decision is constitutional or a decision by the cabinet, the basis is according to the law and within the provision of the constitution.”
Last week the Constitutional Court issued an interim order halting what the government is calling the acrimonious activities of the so-called defiance campaign. Fred Ruhindi, Uganda’s attorney general, emphasized, “The continuation of this campaign is illegal because it is in clear breach of the interim court order.”
He added, “This goes against the will of the majority of our electorate, who voted for President [Yoweri] Museveni. Such actions also violate the recent Supreme Court ruling which reaffirmed Museveni the duly elected president.”
Museveni, who has been in power for the last 30 years, won the February 2016 elections with over 60 percent, extending his rule by another 5 years.
After the elections, the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, whose presidential candidate Kizza Besigye lost for the fourth time, then announced a defiance campaign. The campaign involved praying every Tuesday dressed in black as a sign of mourning at all their party offices countrywide.
However Ruhindi filed a case before the Constitutional Court, which banned the prayers campaign. This Tuesday 30 forum activists, including religious leaders, were arrested, arraigned before court on Wednesday, and released on bail.
They had also set today, May 5, to hold a peaceful protest against the government’s persistent violation of their basic civil and political rights. Today Muwhezi told the media, “At its sitting yesterday, the cabinet directed the police to ensure that the interim order is strictly adhered to.”
Yesterday the police deployed heavily at all opposition leaders’ homes, including Besigye’s.
This morning eight people were arrested during the protests. The protest, according to the Forum for Democratic Change officials, “is meant to oppose the planned inauguration of Museveni” scheduled for May 12.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Kin Karisa, who heads a local television station known for live coverage of events, says, “This is going to restrain us in terms of doing what we do best. Besigye has followers and they will feel we are covering one side and people will think we are not giving them the truth, but again once you have a license, you have to act within those regulations they give you.”
The U.S. Embassy in Uganda described the move as “truly disappointing” just days after World Press Freedom Day.
In a tweet, the embassy said, “Such restrictions violate not just the rights of journalists, but the rights of citizens to information.”
“Citizens of Uganda should be able to decide for themselves what information to use to make informed choices about their country,” it added.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission, Uganda is home to some 30 television stations and 200 radio stations licensed to operate.
