Xtians In Demo Against “The Red Pepper”

May 13, 2003

HUNDREDS of born-again Christians took to Kampala streets yesterday, denouncing The Red Pepper, a local tabloid they blame for publishing pornographic material.

By Geoffrey Kamali
HUNDREDS of born-again Christians took to Kampala streets yesterday, denouncing The Red Pepper, a local tabloid they blame for publishing pornographic material.

In a demonstration, filled with drama, the protesters called on the Government to ban The Red Pepper. They also condemned Senga and Shwenkazi columns in Bukedde and Orumuri, both rural papers published by The New Vision.

The demonstration was organised by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) and the Family Life Network (FLN), a local NGO, fighting against pornography.

Demonstrators included Archbishop Mpalanyi Nkoyooyo, UJCC chairman Can. Grace Kaiso, Dr. Fr. David Kyeyune from the Catholic Secretariat and Pastor Joseph Sserwadda of the Victory Church, Ndeeba, a city suburb.

The protesters carried placards reading, “Parliament, save us from pornography!” “Abolish The Red Pepper Now!” “Richard Tusiime is Richard Kony!” They also sang and danced as they denounced the paper.

“Twala twala eri! Sula sula eri (Luganda for take it away! Throw it away!)” they chanted.
They burnt copies of The Red Pepper and tore to pieces others on the street.

Pastor Martin Sempa told a rally at the Constitutional Square to ask Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh, who launched the paper two years ago, to return from the north and “fight another Kony-like enemy called The Red Pepper.”

Tusiime said they publish stories on immorality.

The procession started at the Constitutional Square and marched to Parliament where they handed Speaker Edward Ssekandi a 13-page memorandum containing over 12,000 signatures.
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