- Joined
- Mar 27, 2011
- Messages
- 16,939
- Reaction score
- 5,320
- Location
- Near the gargoyles
- Website
- www.alessandrakelley.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23587166
The Ugandan parliament has passed a bitterly opposed bill to limit public speech. Critics say it is a further move by President Yowari Museveni, who seized power in 1986, to silence all criticism of his notoriously corrupt régime.
In May of this year the Ugandan government closed two newspapers and two radio stations "for reporting on an alleged government plot to assassinate opposition MPs."
In other words this new law applies to any gathering of three or more people, in public or in private, and empowers the police to shoot anyone they find doing so.
Uganda has been in the news lately for its horrific anti-gay laws and policies, which many believe are a deliberate scapegoating by Museveni to distract attention away from the massive corruption in Uganda's government and oil industry.
The Ugandan parliament has passed a bitterly opposed bill to limit public speech. Critics say it is a further move by President Yowari Museveni, who seized power in 1986, to silence all criticism of his notoriously corrupt régime.
In May of this year the Ugandan government closed two newspapers and two radio stations "for reporting on an alleged government plot to assassinate opposition MPs."
The bill gives the police discretionary powers to veto gatherings of as few as three people in a public place to discuss political issues. Police can also break up meetings of three or more people discussing political issues in their own homes.
Police must receive written notice of public meetings seven days in advance and they may only take place between 06:00 and 18:00.
They are entitled to turn down requests on grounds that the venue is already being used, is considered unsuitable or "any other reasonable cause", the bill states.
The bill also allows police to use firearms in self-defence, in defence of others or against those resisting arrest.
In other words this new law applies to any gathering of three or more people, in public or in private, and empowers the police to shoot anyone they find doing so.
Uganda has been in the news lately for its horrific anti-gay laws and policies, which many believe are a deliberate scapegoating by Museveni to distract attention away from the massive corruption in Uganda's government and oil industry.
Last edited: