Activists petition international court over media law

By Clare Muhindo and Ramadhan Abbey

CATHERINE Anita, an advocate from Human Rights Network for journalists HRNJ-U has revealed that in partnership with other non-governmental organizations, media activists have petitioned court over the defamation law in the penal code act.

Anita said that a petition was filed at the East African Court of Justice, arguing that the law violates freedom of the media.  

Citing Section 179 and 180 of the Penal Code Act (PCA) cap 120 of the laws of the Uganda, Anita stated that the defamation law defies one of the objectives of the EAC protocol.

According to the Act, any person who, by print, writing, painting, image, gestures and spoken words or unlawfully publishes defamatory matter concerning another person, with intent to defame him/her commits a misdemeanor termed libel.

It further states that defamatory matter likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing that person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or likely to damage any person in his or her profession or trade by an injury to his or her reputation commits an offence.

Anita argued that government has failed to observe the principle of governance, rule of law and accountability.

In Article 2(1) the tenth objective of the EAC protocol is to promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, involvement of civil society organizations and the media, access to information, freedom of the press and accountability in the management of public affairs.

The organizations include United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) and Eastern African Media Institute –Uganda Chapter (EAMI-U).