Nsadhu rules out censorship

Nov 17, 2000

INFORMATION minister Basoga Nsadhu yesterday defended the type of journalism practiced by Bukedde, The New Vision's sister paper, saying its readers should be given what they want.

By A. G. Musamali INFORMATION minister Basoga Nsadhu yesterday defended the type of journalism practiced by Bukedde, The New Vision's sister paper, saying its readers should be given what they want. Nsadhu also dismissed calls for media censorship. He was addressing participants at a seminar to mark the International Day of Tolerance at Hotel Africana in Kampala. The seminar was organised by the Uganda National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Always Be Tolerant Organisation. Discussions were chaired by Oyam South Member of Parliament Dr. Okulo-Epak. Nsadhu said the Government could not afford to reintroduce media censorship because it was undemocratic and because modern technology made it impossible. "The other day somebody offered to give birth on the internet. "Even if we had wanted to prevent Ugandans from viewing such stuff, how would we beaten the available technology?" he said. He said Bukedde's readership guided the editors on the choice of the paper's content, and if they were not interested in what the paper publishes they would stop buying it. He said if the paper disregarded its readers interests, sales would fall. He said letting people choose what they want to read encouraged tolerance. He said when people tolerate other people's opinions on social and economic issues, they find it easy to tolerate divergent political opinions. Nsadhu said this was the only way of building democracy and peace. Ends.

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