CID summons NGO over posters
Feb 15, 2006
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday summoned MS Uganda officials over the controversial civic education posters, which the Government says could incite violence.
By John Odyek and Felix Osike
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday summoned MS Uganda officials over the controversial civic education posters, which the Government says could incite violence.
MS Uganda management, however, says the posters seized on Monday by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Special Revenue Protection Service were civic education materials published and distributed in 2002.
MS Uganda is a Danish-based development organisation with a vision to promote peace, fight poverty and ensure global equity.
Ulla Stroebech (right), the NGO director, yesterday said the posters, which were printed in Tanzania, were to be distributed with clearance from the Electoral Commission. “MS Uganda has never wanted to act in a subterranean manner or antagonise the Government. We regret the inappropriate time, being so near the elections. As a consequence, we will not distribute the posters before elections,†she said.
“It is with regret that our democracy posters meant for civic education are mistakenly perceived as election posters meant for the 2006 election and as such led to an impromptu press meeting on February 13. The posters were never meant to be part of the election campaign, they are not partisan, political and do not depict any persons in or outside government,†Stroebech said.
She said there were 15 types of posters of 10,000 copies each.
“Two posters are linked to elections. We never intended to offend anybody. We can withdraw the offensive posters if they can return the others. We will use the others with the Ministry of Education to promote democracy in schools,†she said.
Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu could not comment on the issue as he was in meetings.
Stroebech said samples of the democracy handbook were sent to the Prime Ministers office, State House, UPDF, Parliament, Police, Prisons, the Ministry of Local Government and the Uganda Local Authorities Association.
Strobech, who received the summons yesterday, said she would appear before CID tomorrow.
The posters were drawn by a Tanzanian cartoonist and transported by road from Dar es Salaam through Mutukula border to Uganda. They were impounded at URA’s Masaka clearing yard.
Stroebech said they recognise the democratic development, which has taken place over the last 20 years and worked closely with the Government since 2002 when they launched the democracy handbook.
“The posters depict situations which are generally regarded as democratic and others which are looked upon as undemocratic. The posters make part of our civic education material which has been used together with Ugandan organisations and institutions for the last four years,†she said.
Stroebech said a Tanzanian cartoonist, sammy Mwangamba, drew the cartoon edition of their 60-page democracy handbook published in 2000.
Ends
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday summoned MS Uganda officials over the controversial civic education posters, which the Government says could incite violence.
MS Uganda management, however, says the posters seized on Monday by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the Special Revenue Protection Service were civic education materials published and distributed in 2002.
MS Uganda is a Danish-based development organisation with a vision to promote peace, fight poverty and ensure global equity.
Ulla Stroebech (right), the NGO director, yesterday said the posters, which were printed in Tanzania, were to be distributed with clearance from the Electoral Commission. “MS Uganda has never wanted to act in a subterranean manner or antagonise the Government. We regret the inappropriate time, being so near the elections. As a consequence, we will not distribute the posters before elections,†she said.
“It is with regret that our democracy posters meant for civic education are mistakenly perceived as election posters meant for the 2006 election and as such led to an impromptu press meeting on February 13. The posters were never meant to be part of the election campaign, they are not partisan, political and do not depict any persons in or outside government,†Stroebech said.
She said there were 15 types of posters of 10,000 copies each.
“Two posters are linked to elections. We never intended to offend anybody. We can withdraw the offensive posters if they can return the others. We will use the others with the Ministry of Education to promote democracy in schools,†she said.
Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu could not comment on the issue as he was in meetings.
Stroebech said samples of the democracy handbook were sent to the Prime Ministers office, State House, UPDF, Parliament, Police, Prisons, the Ministry of Local Government and the Uganda Local Authorities Association.
Strobech, who received the summons yesterday, said she would appear before CID tomorrow.
The posters were drawn by a Tanzanian cartoonist and transported by road from Dar es Salaam through Mutukula border to Uganda. They were impounded at URA’s Masaka clearing yard.
Stroebech said they recognise the democratic development, which has taken place over the last 20 years and worked closely with the Government since 2002 when they launched the democracy handbook.
“The posters depict situations which are generally regarded as democratic and others which are looked upon as undemocratic. The posters make part of our civic education material which has been used together with Ugandan organisations and institutions for the last four years,†she said.
Stroebech said a Tanzanian cartoonist, sammy Mwangamba, drew the cartoon edition of their 60-page democracy handbook published in 2000.
Ends