Gov't shouldn't restrict media freedoms - experts

Six out of 10 Ugandans think media houses should have rights to publish any views and ideas without government control, according to a new Twaweza report that also focuses on the citizens' experiences regarding access to information.

Seven out of 10 think that radio and television stations should be free to produce their own news programs.

A similar number (72%) think that the media houses should investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption.

A substantial majority: 9 out of 10 citizens also express support for their right to criticize the President for making decisions they judge to be ‘bad' and when they think the first citizen is not listening to advise. 

The same number (85%) expressed the same standpoint about government and their MP—they should be able to freely criticize government and the legislators when they feel the organs are either lazy or not caring about their constituencies.

A large majority believe that criticism is constructive and that it helps government to correct mistakes (78%) thus making the country stronger (72%).

Marie Nanyanzi,a research lead investigator and programs officer at Sauti za Wananchi, said there was a "fairly active culture" of citizens seeking information from government officials and institutions and government.

The findings were presented in Kampala Tuesday.

They are based on data from Sauti za Wananchi, Africa's first nationally representative high frequency mobile phone survey. The findings are based on data collected from 1980 respondents across Uganda in November 2017.
 
The survey found that in the past three months, 87% of the citizens sought information from public health facilities, 79% from public schools and 62% from village or local council I offices.

However, most citizens feel free to criticize leaders and institutions closest them, including local council V chairpersons, their MPs, local council IIIs and village and street chairpersons.

But the citizens are unsure about criticising national leaders, including the President (4 out of 10), the Vice President (5 out of 10), and the Prime Minister (5 out of 10).

Sylvia Birahwa, the acting assistant commissioner ministry of information, communications technology and national guidance, said the ‘gaps' in access to information stem from challenges in communication.

She said the citizenry need to be empowered more to access information. And the people who are giving out this information need to be more accessible.

"You need to know what rights you have. If you don't … then it is going to be hard," she said.