By
Margaret Sekaggya
Executive Director
Human Rights Centre Uganda
Plot 65 Luthuli Avenue P.O Box,
25638, Kampala Uganda EMAIL:info@hrcug.org, www.facebook.com/hrcug,
www.twitter.com/hrcug, Tel :0414 266186
Journalists
and the media continue to remain one of the most targeted groups of defenders
all over the globe, and not just in Uganda. This report however elaborates in
detail on the kinds of violations that journalists in Uganda faced in 2013, the
persons responsible for these violations, the areas of specific target,and the lacuna's that exist within the Laws and operations of Uganda as a whole that
have made journalists even more vulnerable to threats that continue to evolve.
The
report highlights a worrying trend by revealing the biggest perpetrator as police
and further still that the violations by police have increased in number from 2012.It
also includes other state actors such as the judiciary, Resident District
Commissioners who are meant to safeguard the rights of all people including
those of journalists who are the very same people that violate these rights.
Committing the violations against journalists is not the only renunciation of
their duty to protect the media freedoms, the failure to punish those that do
so is equally as dire. The report notes that even state actors including the
general public, media house owners and private companies do violate the rights
of journalists.
It
is important for Police and to clear the image that continues to be ruined by a
few errant policemen, and this is where the internal mechanism of the
Proffessional Standard Unit must actually perform its role, by imposing very
serious sanctions on these officers that man handle journalists, destroy their
property and commit all sorts of assault against them. The Courts must also be
able to adjudicate on matters concerning violations against journalists and
ensure that the non state actors and other perpetrators are held responsible.
The
role of Parliament in ensuring press freedoms is key. The law can either be
used to legitimize press freedoms or to curtail them. The report highlights
some Legislation that has negatively affected media freedoms and the rights of
journalists including the Public Order Management Act 2013,Uganda
Communications Act 2006, among many that have given violators of these rights
the lee way to do so, preventing journalists from accessing news, or discussing
important issues.
This
has led to repercussions including self censorship inadvertently violating the
public’s rights to access information.
OUganda
should not forget its legal obligations under the international human rights
instruments including the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights in
Article 19, but also Article 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
This report highlights the link between eroded respects of the rule of law,
which makes it hard to hold perpetrators accountable.
The
most recent closure of the Monitor, and red pepper news papers that has been
termed the media siege shows a very limited understanding of the positive role
that the media has in the development of society and the country at large. This
report actually highlights this as one of the possible attributes to the
increase in press violations.
In
my reading of this report I have noted some important recommendations that will
contribute to the realization of media freedoms.
·
It
is important that the State to understand and appreciate the role of the media
as a tool for development, democracy and social transformation instead of an
enemy.
·
Violators
of the rights of the journalists must be punished in order to deter any
violations.
·
Parliament
should refrain from enacting any laws that curtail media freedoms.
·
Government
should respect its international human rights obligations and the Constitution
of the Republic of Uganda that caters for the freedom of expression. Any
derogation to the rights of journalists and the media to express themselves
must be under law.
The
State as the main duty bearer has a major role in safe guarding the rights of
the media, however in order human rights defenders should also play a major
role in sensitizing the authorities, policy makers and the general public on
human rights issues including on the role and importance of the media in a
democratic state. It is important that this is understood and appreciated by
all Stakeholders as legitimate and valuable.
I
hereby launch this report and urge all stakeholders to take heed of their roles
regarding the promotion of media freedoms.