Govt drafting Bill on pornography

By Conan Nsubuga  

THE Government is drafting a Bill to stop the usage of pornography in the country’s media, information and national guidance minister Mary Karooro Okurut has said. 

Karooro said Section 166 of the Penal Code forbids trafficking of obscene obligations but does not define what constitutes pornography. It is on this basis, she said, that the Government needs a stronger law to tackle pornography, especially in the print media.  

Karooro, who was speaking at the inauguration of a new Media Council yesterday, commended the outgoing team for having put up a strong fight against the usage of pornography. 

However, she said the vice was still rampant and urged the new council to continue with the fight. 

The new council comprises of Dr. Gorreti Nassanga (chairperson), Dr. Amooti Katebalirwe, Paul Ekochu, Kawooya Mwebe, Linda Nabusayi, Peter Okello Jabweri and Assumpta Kemigisha. Others are Sunday Wilson, Venus Omana and Paul Mukasa (secretary).  

Dr. Nassanga asked the Government to improve the funding of the council and create an independent office, other than being housed in the information minister’s office.  

The Media Council is a statutory body established by the Press and Journalist Act of 1994 and charged with the regulation of the mass media in Uganda. 

The objective of the council is to ensure the freedom of the media and establish a system for the regulation of the qualifications of editors and journalists, and the ethical and professional standards of the mass media. 

The council also has two distinguished scholars in mass media, a representative nominated by the Uganda Newspapers Editors and Proprietors Association and another from the electronic media.