Media, rights bodies hail sedition ruling

THE media fraternity and human rights organisations yesterday hailed the Constitutional Court ruling on the charge of sedition, saying it encourages the enjoyment of human rights, especially freedom of expression.

The Independent Media Council of Uganda (IMCU) and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) welcomed the ruling, saying it has enlarged the space for freedom of expression and ultimately the enjoyment of other rights.

Haruna Kanabi, IMCU acting executive secretary and one of the joint petitioners in the case, hailed the ruling, saying Ugandans can now air their views freely without impediments or fear that they would end up in prison.

I am delighted. This victory is not only for the media, but for all Ugandans,?Kanabi, who first challenged that provision of the law in 1995, said.

Though his first petition was thrown out by court on a matter of technicality, he bounced back through the East African Media Institute and challenged it in 2005. He was later joined by Andrew Mwenda, culminating in what came to be known as the Andrew Mwenda case.

Kanabi said the ruling would enable the media to serve the public better without fear or favour.

Livingstone Sewanyana, the FHRI boss, said the ruling creates a more enabling environment for the enjoyment of human rights.

rom today, sedition has been declared unconstitutional and people now have the opportunity to express themselves without fear of being arrested.

"The media is the main platform for people to air their concerns and is a necessity for a level playing field especially for the 2011 elections,?Sewanyana said.

He said the Government can only restrict measures, but not undermine the enjoyment of rights.

He media too will enjoy this opportunity because on many occasions, they have been arrested on charges of sedition,? Sewanyana said.

In its latest report, The right to health care in Uganda, FHRI expressed concern over the enjoyment of freedom of expression in the country.

The report cited the proposed Press and Journalist (Amendment) Bill 2010, which seeks among other things, to put in place an unfavourable regulatory framework on media houses.

If enacted into law, the Bill would hamper media operations through increased self-censorship of journalists and media houses,?the report reads.


(2010-08-25/newvision)