President yet to assent to anti-porn Bill

By Henry Sekanjako & Joyce Namutebi

President Yoweri Museveni is yet to assent to the Anti-Pornography Bill recently passed by Parliament, besides the anti-homosexuality Bill.

In recent remarks, the President said he would first study the latter before signing it.

Sources who included ethics and integrity state minister Father Simon Lokodo, one of the ardent promoters of the Anti-pornopgraphic Bill said he was not aware of any presidential assent yet.

“President Yoweri Museveni might have assented to the Anti-Pornography Bill to make pornography a criminal offence. However, I cannot commit myself because I have not yet got any official communication to that effect”, Lokodo said, adding that assenting to the Bill will show the President’s support to stamping out indecent exposure.

The clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige, said the House is yet to forward the two Bills to the President for assent, as the government printery, which publishes them will resume work today.

Lokodo said Uganda would rid itself of people moving around streets “half naked” if the law is implemented, adding that it would ensure safety of children against pornography.

“It is not freedom for someone to dress inappropriately. This is western culture, and nobody should be influenced into this,” said Lokodo.

Uganda Media Centre chief Ofwono Opondo also denied knowledge of the President assenting to the bill.

“It cannot be true. the President is apparently very busy with South Sudan, I doubt he has assented to any bill,” Opondo said.

Stephen Tashobya, the Kajara County MP observes that while pornography in its different forms is already prohibited in Uganda in different laws, there is no single law to comprehensively stamp out the vice in society, justifying the new consolidated law.

The Bill provides for the creation of the Anti-Pornography committee responsible for its implementation by ensuring the early detection, collection and destroying pornographic materials.

Lokodo argues that pornography is that it fuels sexual crimes against women and children.

He noted that the law will stop strip teases that are popular with Kampala.

Alice Alaso (Serere) says she cannot wait for the President to assent to it especially for the protection of children.