Mapping the Freedom of Creative Expression in Uganda By Ellady Muyambi

MAPPING THE FREEDOM OF CREATIVE

EXPRESSION IN UGANDA

A Report

By

Ellady Muyambi

Executive Director,

Historic Resources Conservation Initiatives (HRCI),

Plot 398, Kalerwe- Gayaza Road, Ark Building,

Block 5 (Next to Total Petrol Station)

P.O Box 34407 Kampala, Uganda,

Tel: +256-41-4-532676,

Mob: +256-71-2-213888,

Fax: +256-414-533384

E-mail: historicresources11gmail.com, elladmuyambi@yahoo.com

Skype: ellady.muyambi

Submitted to

The Arterial Network

Union House, 2nd Floor,

25 Commercial Street, Cape Town, 8001

December, 2011

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents........................................................................................................................2

Glossary.......................................................................................................................................5

List of Figures.............................................................................................................................7

List of Tables...............................................................................................................................8

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations......................................................................................9

Acknowledgements..................................................................................................................13

Executive Summary.................................................................................................................14

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION...................................................................................19

1.0 Background.........................................................................................................................19

1.1 Purpose of the Study..........................................................................................................21

1.2 Objectives of the Study......................................................................................................22

1.3 Methodology.......................................................................................................................23

CHAPTER TWO: CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN UGANDA........................................25

2.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................................25

2.1. Language and Literary Arts...........................................................................................25

2.2 Performing Arts.................................................................................................................25

2.2.1 Uganda’s Music..............................................................................................................26

2.3 Visual Arts and Handicrafts............................................................................................28

2.4 Indigenous Knowledge....................................................................................................28

2.5 Cultural beliefs, traditions and values...........................................................................28

2.6 Religion...............................................................................................................................29

2.7 Cultural Sites, Monuments and Antiquities..................................................................29

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CHAPTER THREE: FINDINGS...........................................................................................31

3.0 Introduction.........................................................................................................................31

3.1 Uganda’s ratification of international instruments that promote and protect

freedom of creative expression...............................................................................................31

3.2 Uganda’s constitution and its protection – or not – of freedom of creative

expression..................................................................................................................................36

3.3 Other existing law (s) that govern (s)/affect(s) freedom in producing or

distributing art in all its forms (film, theatre, music, visual art, literature, dance,

etc)...............................................................................................................................................37

3.4 Legal mechanism – national, regional or local – that plays a censorship role with

regard to the freedom of creative expression and distribution.........................................43

3.5 Laws and/or legal mechanism, that control to seek to censor the media –

television, radio, print, web, etc – thereby potentially impacting directly or indirectly

on the arts..................................................................................................................................45

3.6 Concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by the above

laws............................................................................................................................................53

3.7 Religious and/or traditional laws that impact negatively on freedom of creative

expression in Uganda..............................................................................................................56

3.8 Concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by the above laws in

Uganda.......................................................................................................................................58

3.9 Ways in which artists are censored or have their freedoms adversely affected that

are not legally or culturally based e.g. political or other forms of intimidation.............60

3.10 Ways in which accessing public funds or other perks are used to intimidate or

censor artists..............................................................................................................................61

3.11 Contact details of human rights organisations active in Uganda including

international, regional, national and local organisations...................................................63

3.12 Contact details of arts organisations working in the field of human rights or in

defence and promotion of human rights..............................................................................92

3.13 Contact details of media (journalists, newspapers, bloggers, etc) working to

promote or defend human rights.........................................................................................101

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3.14 Concrete examples of artists who have suffered under the contravention of

freedom of expression by political authorities, religious authorities, cultural practices,

economic or other forms of censorship and fellow artists or arts

organisations...........................................................................................................................107

CHAPTER FOUR: OBSERVATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS......................................................................................................110

4.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................................110

4.1 Observations.....................................................................................................................110

4.2 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................110

4.3 Recommendations............................................................................................................110

REFERENCES........................................................................................................................112

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GLOSSARY

Aesthetic value: Value associated with visual quality or appreciation that the

individual or community derives from the beauty of an object, property or idea.

Cultural Industries: Business, activities involved in the production of creative

products which convey ideas, messages, symbols, opinions and information of moral

and aesthetic value.

Beliefs: Shared ideas about how the world operates. These may be interpretations of

the past, explanation of the present, or predictions of the future, which are based on

common sense, folk wisdom, religion, science or a combination of these.

Cultural Sites: Natural and man-made works that are of outstanding universal value

from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological points of view

Cultural Tourism: Consumption of culture through experiencing cultural

environments whether in the form of tangible heritage like sites, monuments, visual

arts, crafts, material settlements or intangible heritage like values, traditions, beliefs

and lifestyles.

Culture: Culture includes both tangible and intangible heritage which is varied,

complex and in constant evolution. Culture is a whole complex of distinctive,

spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize society or

social groups. It includes not only the arts and letters but also modes of life,

fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions, habits and

behaviors. In this Report, Culture is defined as “the sum total of the ways in which a

society preserves, identifies, organizes, sustains and expresses itself.

Handicrafts: Works of the hand resulting from human thoughts, needs and

conceptions from nature. Handicrafts portray the thoughts, beliefs and culture of a

society.

Heritage: Tangible and intangible realities that communities, groups and individuals

recognize and cherish as part of their lifestyle. The tangible heritage includes

monuments or architecture, art and crafts, sites, manuscripts, books and other objects

of artistic and historical interest. The intangible heritage includes language, oral

traditions, performing arts, music, festive events, rituals, social practices, traditional

craftsmanship, knowledge and practices concerning nature.

Indigenous knowledge: Traditional knowledge and practices existing within and

developed around the specific conditions of communities that, are indigenous to a

particular geographical area.

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Literary Arts: The body of creative written works of a language. These include poetry,

essays, plays, novels.

Orthography: A method of representing the sounds of a language by written or

printed symbols

Performing Arts: Art forms (classical, medieval, modern) that are put on public

display for their aesthetic and social values. These include music, drama, dance,

poetry, miming and opera.

Tradition: Beliefs, custom, or ways of doing things that have existed for a long time

and are deliberately handed down to the next generation.

Ethnic Minorities: Francesco Capotorti, one time Special Rapporteur of the UN sub

Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, defines

ethenic Minorities as a group numerically inferior to the rest of the population of the

state. They are communities which are in a non dominant position, who members

possess different ethnic religious or ethnic linguistic characteristics differing from

those of the rest of the population. They also show a sense of solidarity directed

towards preserving their culture, traditions, religion and language. Similarly, De

verennes (1997) defines minorities as a group of individuals sharing common ethnic,

religious or linguistic characteristics and who are numerically inferior to the rest of the

population of the state.

Language: Language is intrinsically a part of culture which concerns itself with

socially transmitted behaviour patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions and all other

products of human work and thought. As derived from the definition of culture,

language is an element of and basically part of the non-material aspects of culture. It is

a means of communication using sounds or conventional symbols. It is also used as a

system of representation that provides the mechanism for social integration by

facilitating interaction. As a system of representation, language provides a shared

means of perceiving reality. Language is also one of the most fundamental aspects in

the construction of ethnicity. Language also acts a tool for the integration of different

societies into a national and ultimately a global community.

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Districts and Administrative Units of Uganda

Figure 2: A police officer manhandles a journalist during a Walk to Work protest

Figure 3: Photojournalist Michael Kakumirizi is treated for a head wound sustained

during the Walk to Work protest

Figure 4: Bahá'í House of Worship, Kampala, Uganda

Figure 5: Chameleon converts to Islam at Kibuli Mosque, in Kampala

Figure 6: Mr. Nzaramba Sebakwiye Vicent Ssalongo

Figure 7: Dr Olive Kifefe Kobusingye

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Contact details of arts organizations involved in the field of human rights in

Uganda

Table 2: Contact details of media people defending human rights in Uganda

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LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ACCU: Anti Corruption Coalition of Uganda

ACFODE: Action for Development

ACTV: African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims

AGHA: Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS

AHURIO: Association of Human Rights Organisations in the Rwenzori Region

AHURIMO: Africa Human Rights Monitoring Organization

AI: Amnesty International

ANPPCAN: African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse

and Neglect

AN-U: Arterial Network- Uganda Chapter

AUWMD: Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors

CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity

CCFU: Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda

CECORE: Centre for Conflict Resolution

CHEC: Cultural Heritage Exchange Centre

CHRI: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

EASSI: Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of

Women

FEMRITE: Uganda Women Writers Association

FOWODE: Forum for Women in Democracy

FHRI: Foundation for Human Rights Initiative

FIDA -U: Association of Uganda Women Lawyers

HAR: Hope After Rape

HEPS-Uganda: Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development in Uganda

HRCI: Historic Resources Conservation Initiatives

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HRW: Human Rights Watch

HURINET- U: Human Rights Network Uganda

HURICO: Human Rights Concern

HURICEF: Human Rights and Civic Education Forum

HURIFO: Human Rights Focus

HURIPEC: Human Rights and Peace Centre

HUYSLINCI: Huys Link Community Initiative

ICESCR: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

ICH: Intangible Cultural Heritage

IGG: Inspectorate of Government

IK: Indigenous Knowledge

ISO: Internal Security Organization

ISIS-WICCE: ISIS Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange

KHRI: Kumi Human Rights Initiative

KITUO CHA KATIBA: East African centre for Constitutional Development

LGA: Local Government Act

NAWOU: National Association for Women Organisation in Uganda

NCC: National Council for Children

NCF: National Culture Forum

NDP: National Development Plan

NGO: Non Governmental Organization

NOTU: National Organisation of Trade Unions

NRM: National Resistance Movement

PCR: Physical Cultural Resources

PEAP: Poverty Eradication Action Plan

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PDAU: Public Defenders Association

RLP: Refuge Law Project

SDIP: Social Development Sector Strategic Investment Plan

TR- U: Transparency International Uganda

UAA: Uganda Artists’ Association

UCC: Uganda Communication Commission

UCRNN: Uganda Child Rights NGO Network

UCPA: Uganda Consumers Protection Association

UDHR: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

UDPAS: Uganda Discharged Prisoners Aid Society

UHRC: Uganda Human Rights Commission

UNSA: Uganda National Students Association

ULAA: Uganda Local Authorities Association

ULRC: Uganda Law Reform Commission

ULII: Uganda Legal Information Institute

UMSC: Uganda Muslim Supreme Council

UNCC: Uganda National Cultural Centre

UNDRIP: United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People

UNESCO: United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UPDF: Uganda Peoples Defence Force

UPF: Uganda Police Force

UPRS: Uganda Publishing Rights Society

URCS: Uganda Red Cross Society

UJCC: Uganda Joint Christian Council

WFP: World Food Programme

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WHL: World Heritage List

WHO: World Health Organisation

WiLDAF- U: Women in Law and Development in Africa - Uganda Chapter

WODREC: Women's Organisation for Development and Conflict Resolution

YWCA: Young Women Christian Association

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to all those who gave me the possibility to

complete this study. I feel admiration, respect, solidarity, empathy and gratefulness

for every one who helped me in undertaking this study. Am torn apart between anger

against the abusers of creative expression in Uganda and i pray that at one time, God

redesigns their thinking and make them ambassadors in the promotion of creative

expression.

I take this opportunity to thank all colleagues and friends for their tacit or explicit

support. I want to thank those whose literature was used as well as those whom i met

personally during this study. For many of you whom i met, you shared the stories i

brought back and this helped to recharge my batteries. Without you, I could not have

completed this study.

In a more precious way, i take this opportunity to thank Mike Van Gran (Secretary

General, Arterial Network), Carole Karemera (Deputy, Secretary General, Arterial

Network and Artwatch Africa Project Supervisor), Joshua Nyampimbi (Artwatch

Africa Project Regional Coordinator and Manager), Espera Donouvossi (Project

Network, Arterial Network), Belisa Rodrigues (General Manager, Arterial

Network/Africa Arts Institute) and the entire Arterial Network’s Executive in the first

instance for accepting to contract me to undertake this study. I am deeply indebted to

you for the support (both financial, technical and moral) that you provided to me in

making this study a success.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The role of Art in Africa is important for all who are concerned with the advancement

of African Culture, African thought and the African personality. It should also concern

the present generation of Africans whether they are interested in Art for art`s sake or

not. In fact, no emergent African State today, can afford to ignore the urgent role of

Art as we march towards renaissance. The Art of Africa is no longer looked upon as

fetish, as it had been during the early days of European exploration of the Continent.

It is no longer treated with the patronising attitude that was the case when the first

missionaries, anthropologists, and travellers collected old pieces of objets and mixed

them up with what was genuine, nor does African Art only enjoy the reputation of its

influence as a result of its historic impact upon modern art.

Despite this recognition however, African Artists still face enormous challenges. In

Uganda for example, although there are some creative thinkers and innovators who

include painters, sculptors, poets, and playwrights—who exhibit their works in local

galleries and theatres, although there are many discos, pubs, and bars in most towns

and trading centres, where live music is performed and despite the fact that there is a

wide audience for both Ugandan and foreign music, many Ugandans do not attach

much value to art works. Currently, the Westernized elites are virtually the sole

consumers and practitioners of the fine arts. Many people in Uganda perceive artists

differently. Some people appreciate them from a narrow point of view while others

perceive them as retrogressive and this somehow discourages creative expression.

Besides, artists in Africa have suffered from restrictive legislative frameworks as well

as cultural and political interferences among others. Aware that creative expression is

an intrinsically valuable and an important dimension of identity and form of capital

with the potential to move their people out of poverty and recognizing that

individuals inhibit multiple cultural affiliations and identities which must be

respected and promoted, Arterial Network, an Africa-wide civil society network of

artists, cultural activists, creative enterprises, cultural NGOs and others engaged in the

development of the African creative sector in its own right, and as a means to

contribute to human rights, democracy and the eradication of poverty in Africa under

the Artwatch Africa project, the establishment of which was made possible by the

Mimeta Foundation, called for Researchers to map freedom of creative expression (the

right of artists freely to express their opinions and to create and distribute their art) in

all African countries.

The major purpose of the call was to monitor and campaign around the practice of and

constraints on freedom of creative expression in Africa by helping artists to freely

express their opinions and to create and distribute their art. It is from this background

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that Ellady Muyambi (Researcher) was contracted by Arterial Network to undertake

the mapping of the freedom of expression in Uganda.

The Researcher was contracted to provide information about the country’s ratification

of international instruments that promote and protect freedom of creative expression,

highlight the country’s constitution and its protection – or not – of freedom of creative

expression, any existing law that governs/affects freedom in producing or

distributing art in all its forms (film, theatre, music, visual art, literature, dance, etc)

and any legal mechanism – national, regional or local – that plays a censorship role

with regard to the freedom of creative expression and distribution.

The Researcher also was requested to provide information about any laws and/or

legal mechanism that control to seek to censor the media – television, radio, print,

web, etc – thereby potentially impacting directly or indirectly on the art and highlight

concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by these, give information

about religious and/or traditions laws that impact negatively on freedom of creative

expression, provide concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by

these, provide information about ways in which artists are censored or have their

freedoms adversely been affected that are not legally or culturally based e.g. political

or other forms of intimidation and as well provide information about ways in which

accessing public funds or other perks are used to intimidate or censor artists.

Also as part of the assignment, the Researcher was requested to provide contact

details of human rights organisations active in the country including international,

regional, national, and local organisations, contact details of arts organisations

working in the field of human rights or in defence and promotion of human rights and

also contact details of media (journalists, newspapers, bloggers, etc) working to

promote or defend human rights in Uganda. He was further requested to provide

examples of contraventions of freedom of creative expression as well as concrete

examples of artists who have suffered under the contravention of freedom of

expression by political authorities, religious authorities, cultural practices, economic or

other forms of censorship and fellow artists or arts organisations.

In undertaking the assignment, the Researcher ensured a thorough and a robust

mapping of research related to freedom of expression in Uganda and ensured that the

whole country is equally researched and gaps identified. The study was done in an

ethical manner and all sources acknowledged and documented properly. The

Researcher reviewed the literature related with freedom of expression in Uganda and

made courtesy visits to arts organizations in the country. The Researcher also

conducted key informant interviews. Comprehensive and timeous progress reports on

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a weekly basis were shared with the Supervisor and Regional Co-ordinator for the

Artwatch Africa Project.

The study observed that Uganda is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi- linguistic

society. It is a melting-pot of both indigenous and foreign peoples. Uganda’s 65

ethnic categories and the linkage between ethnicity and linguistic groups can not be

denied. Through a variety of programmes—including the Poverty Eradication

Action Plan (PEAP), the government of Uganda has acknowledged that culture

and creative expression (and by implication language) is an intrinsically important

dimension of a person’s identity. The government has consequently endorsed the

international, regional and national legal frameworks and instruments that guarantee

the right to creative expression. The study also noted that since 1986, under the rule

of President Yoweri Museveni, the government's record of respect for human rights

and free expression has improved, but still, there has not been a peaceful change in

power, and Museveni has employed increasingly authoritarian methods.

Despite this broadly accommodative improvement however, the study observed that

there is a general lack of appreciation of the significance and value of Uganda’s

cultural heritage towards the realization of Uganda’s development goals. The

situation is aggravated by the absence of statistics on culture, which would

provide evidence of the contribution of culture to social and economic development.

The study noted that although Uganda's constitution includes provisions to protect,

artists and journalists, laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Electronic Media

Act among many more in offing are potential threats to that protection. Although

many of the laws have been designed to maintain security in Uganda, the majority of

them have been applied arbitrarily to silence critics. They are applied selectively and

without consistent and corroborative explanations. For example, in 2009, four radio

stations were closed allegedly for inciting violence. The problem is that, they were

closed without due process, without following the policies and regulations that are in

place.

The study noted that media ownership in Uganda creates a dangerous conflict of

interest for journalists. For instance, closer to 70 percent of Ugandan radio stations are

owned by politicians who wield much political control over them. This has

compromised independent journalism and limited creative expression. The study

therefore recommended the following;-

• A series of annual conferences be organized around nationally relevant themes

to help raise the profile of arts and culture in Uganda in order to make it

relevant to national development or at-least, provide an annual platform for

17

joint discussion and action by Ugandan artists, artist organizations and other

stakeholders;

• Build an effective network of artistes and culture practitioners in order to

effectively build upon the existing initiatives;

• Increase access to information and funding, stimulate joint planning of

activities and initiatives, engage in joint advocacy campaigns for example for

cultural awareness, state recognition and support in order to increase the

sustainability of artists and the cultural sector;

• Promote and establish a fund for local cultural industries and institutions such

as script writers, performers, musicians, film makers etc in order to produce

quality content that are marketable across boarders;

• Carry out a capacity needs assessment especially in the areas of qualified

personnel, materials and equipment, knowledge about markets for products,

infrastructure and coordination;

• Facilitate the development and implementation of a comprehensive capacity

building plan for culture practitioners and institutions that promote culture e.g.

by giving investment incentives;

• Support the implementation of culture interventions through local

governments, civil society organizations and the private sector through joint

programmes in order to address conflicts, uphold democracy and promote

sustainable development;

• Recognize, promote and conserve cultural assets such as museums in order to

promote tourism development, employment and socio-economic development

• Emphasize the promotion of a harmonious co-existence among the different

indigenous communities and encourage intra and inter-cultural exchange;

• Promote respect and tolerance among different beliefs and value systems;

• Identify talented people for recognition and support;

• Initiate the review of culture specific laws especially those which limit creative

expression.

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Figure 1: Districts and Administrative Units of Uganda

Source: Local Government, 2010

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background

As is the case with many African states, Uganda is a home to a large number of

diverse ethnic and linguistic groups. Around 500BC, 23 Bantu speaking peoples

migrated to the area now called Uganda. By the fourteenth century, the area was

dominated by this group which comprises of Banyankole, Baganda, Banyoro, Batoro

Basoga, Bakiga and several small groups. The second largest group is the Nilotic

people comprising the Iteso people and Karimajong cluster of ethnic groups who

speak Eastern Nilotic languages and the Acholi, Alur and Langi who speak the

Western Nilotic languages. A smaller group of people speaking Sudanic languages

who also arrived in Uganda from the North over a period of several centuries include

the Kakwa, Lugbara, Madi, Nubians and other small groups in the North West of the

country.

Uganda has a complex pattern of uneven development, regional conflict and minority

rights concerns. Each of the diverse communities in Uganda is distinct in terms of

culture and cultural heritage, hence their recognition constitutionally as distinct

cultural groups. Uganda who have their origins now comprises of 65 formerly

independent traditional societies or ethnic groupings with a few groups elsewhere,

such as the Banyarwanda who originally came from Rwanda and Ugandans of Asian

origin for example Indians who came from India. Most of Uganda’s indigenous

groups possess a distinct language although strictly speaking, they are essentially

dialects of the four main language groups i.e. Bantu, Eastern Nilotic, Western Nilotic

and Central Sudanic. In these circumstances, it is problematic to speak of a unified

Ugandan culture or language.

During the pre-colonial era, the indigenous communities that comprise present day

Uganda were independent societies with their own political establishments. With the

advent of the British colonial state in 1894, there was an attempt at harmonizing the

distinct ethnic communities. The first effort was to centralise the state which proved

deficient as a political strategy without some degree of social cohesion. Language was

therefore seen as a tool that would assist in the reconstruction of diverse ethnic

identities and their integration into a national identity. In pursuance of this goal, the

British colonial state therefore introduced English as the official language in Uganda.

The name Uganda is derived from the Kingdom of Buganda. Shortly before

independence, several politicians proposed that the name of Uganda be changed to

“Nilian” simply because River Nile is known to many different ethnic communities

but the proposal was rejected.

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Uganda, a landlocked country situated in the East Africa acquired political

independence on the 9th October, 1962. It is bordered by Kenya to the East, the

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the West, the Sudan to the North, Rwanda to

the Southwest and Tanzania to the South. A national census carried out in September

2002 estimated the population at 24.7 million. In real terms, the population has grown

5 times its size of 5 million in 1948 and doubled in 20 years from a figure of 12.6

million in 1980. Currently, the population is estimated at 32 million people.

After the attainment of independence, Uganda underwent decades of political and

constitutional turmoil, particularly in the years 1966-86, as reflected in the abrogation

of the 1962 independence constitution in 1966, its replacement with an ‘interim’ 1966

constitution and then a 1967 republican constitution. In the aftermath of installing a

new government (NRM) in 1986, country-wide consultations were undertaken by a

constitutional commission established in 1988 with a view of writing a new

constitution. The new constitution was promulgated in 1995. Currently, any law that

contravenes any section of this constitution is null and void.

As to socio-economic development, the political turmoil during the mid-1960s to the

mid-1980s was matched by the collapse of the economy and social infrastructure. The

vibrant economy of the early and mid-1960s came to a decline in the 1970s as the

military government of Idi Amin (1971-79) placed enterprise (that it had grabbed from

expelled Asians) into the hands of its cronies (the mafutamingi) with no business

acumen. This coupled with black-marketeering (magendo) and corruption saw the

collapse of the private sector and the public parastatals as the economic mainstay of

the country.

In the social sector, health facilities collapsed while in education, there was brain drain

as intellectuals fled abroad for greener pastures. The political situation and economic

policies of the early 1980s failed to revive an economy in ruins and, aided by

corruption, nepotism and tribalism, economic and social development stagnated.

Since 1986, there has been some stability where the implementation of macro- and

micro-economic policies has aimed at restoring socio-economic development.

Uganda’s economy is predominantly agro-based. Agriculture accounts for 85% of

rural livelihood and 51% of the GDP. It contributes about 90% of export earnings,

while industry contributes 10% and manufacturing 4%. The system of government is

republican founded on the Constitution of Uganda of 1995. The system of government

has, since 1986 and following promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, been based on

the non-partisan ‘Movement’ political system. However in July 2005, the country

transited from the movement political system to a multi-party political system.

21

Culturally, each tribe in Uganda has its musical history; songs were passed down from

generation to generation. Endigindi (fiddle), endongo (lyre), amadinda (xylophone)

and akogo (thumb piano) were the commonly played instruments in the early days.

However, things have changed at present. According to the Encyclopaedia of African

Peoples (2000) and Olson (1996), cultural developments have been influenced by

migrations of various linguistic groups. For instance, with over 50 years after

achieving political independence, there seems to be lack of cultural rootedness

throughout the country of Uganda. There is a clear evidence of the loss of memory

and lack of cultural identity. This has been exaggerated by intermarriages, foreign

influence, weak laws and institutions, decline in morals and lack of democratic

governance. This has led to a decline in creative thinking and expression. Due to this

decline, the rights of creative thinkers, innovators, promoters and actors have been

abused and restricted.

Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “everyone shall have

the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community and to enjoy the

arts…” while Article 19 declares “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and

expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to

seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of

frontiers”. These fundamental rights are often impacted upon by political, religious,

cultural, social and other factors.

With support from the Mimeta Foundation, Arterial Network launched the Artwatch

Africa project to monitor freedom of creative expression in all African countries.

Arterial Network is an Africa-wide civil society network of artists, cultural activists,

creative enterprises, cultural NGOs and others engaged in the development of the

African creative sector in its own right, and as a means to contribute to human rights,

democracy and the eradication of poverty in Africa. The aim of Artwatch Africa

project is to highlight the contravention of these human rights, and to support artists

who are victimised.

The first phase of the project involved a broad mapping of freedom of expression – the

factors impacting on the free exercise of creative expression – across the continent,

with researchers being commissioned to undertake this exercise before the end of

2011. It is from this background that Ellady Muyambi (Researcher) was contracted by

Arterial Network to undertake the mapping of the freedom of expression in Uganda.

1.1 Purpose of the Study

The major purpose of the study was to monitor and campaign around the practice of

and constraints on freedom of creative expression in Africa by helping artists to freely

express their opinions and to create and distribute their art.

22

1.2 Objectives of the Study

Specifically, the study intended to;-

• provide information about the country’s ratification of international

instruments that promote and protect freedom of creative expression;

• provide information about the country’s constitution and its protection – or not

– of freedom of creative expression;

• provide information about any existing law that governs/affects freedom in

producing or distributing art in all its forms (film, theatre, music, visual art,

literature, dance, etc);provide information about any legal mechanism –

national, regional or local – that plays a censorship role with regard to the

freedom of creative expression and distribution;

• provide information about any laws and/or legal mechanism that control to

seek to censor the media – television, radio, print, web, etc – thereby potentially

impacting directly or indirectly on the arts;

• provide concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by these;

• provide information about religious and/or traditions laws that impact

negatively on freedom of creative expression;

• provide concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by these;

• provide information about ways in which artists are censored or have their

freedoms adversely been affected that are not legally or culturally based e.g.

political or other forms of intimidation;

• provide information about ways in which accessing public funds or other perks

are used to intimidate or censor artists;

• provide contact details of human rights organisations active in the country

including international organisations, national organisations and local

organisations;

• provide contact details of arts organisations working in the field of human

rights or in defence and promotion of human rights;

• provide contact details of media (journalists, newspapers, bloggers, etc)

working to promote or defend human rights;

• provide examples of contraventions of freedom of creative expression; and

23

• provide concrete examples of artists who have suffered under the

contravention of freedom of expression by political authorities, religious

authorities, cultural practices, economic or other forms of censorship and fellow

artists or arts organisations.

1.3 Methodology

The researcher ensured a thorough and a robust mapping of research related to

freedom of expression in Uganda and ensured that the whole country is equally

researched and gaps identified. The study was done in an ethical manner and all

sources acknowledged and documented properly. The researcher reviewed the

literature related with freedom of expression in Uganda and made courtesy visits to

arts organizations in the country. The researcher also conducted key informant

interviews. Comprehensive and timeous progress reports on a weekly basis were sent

to the Supervisor and Regional Co-ordinator.

The researcher used the published, unpublished and the internet to trace literature

related to this study. He referred to Journals, books, periodicals, magazines, internet

journals that were directly connected to the research topic. However, this was not easy

and it demanded calmness while perusing through the books to get the information.

By inquiring from artists about book tittles that were related to the research topic, he

managed to get books and journals related to the study.

Qualitative method was used to analyze data regarding the study. Data was analysed

by the use of data analysis methods for example; contrast and comparison, merging,

coding, transcription, thematic indexing, citing and categorization. The researcher

used coding to identify passages of texts and applying labels to them that indicated

they were examples of some thematic idea during transcription.

The researcher also used citing where he formally recognized within the text, the

sources from which information had been obtained. The sources from which the

researcher cited some works included journals and books, magazines, internet, and

newspapers and peoples’ opinions. The researcher also used thematic indexing. This is

when the researcher clearly identified in the passage the description of the challenges

relating to or consisting of a theme or themes. Indexing involved the circling or

underlining of the words in the sentence and allocating them a theme in the

transcribed notes.

Categorization was also used by the researcher. He used this as a process in which

ideas and statements were recognized, differentiated and understood. Categorization

implied that ideas were grouped into categories. Apart from categorization, the

researcher also used transcription. This is when the researcher converted into written,

24

the interview obtained from the respondents onto paper or note book which again

helped the researcher to allocate theme, categorize, and code information that was

again used.

The information that the researcher found related was merged during the data

presentation. This helped him to compare and contrast the information got from

different respondents and reports. Comparison and Contrast was as well used by the

researcher. This data analysis method helped the researcher to compare information

that was related basing on the respondents’ views and contrasting it with the other

respondents’ views or reports. The information that was found similar was put under

the same category that helped the researcher to get a better view of the challenges

facing creative expression in Uganda.

25

CHAPTER TWO

CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN UGANDA

2.0 Introduction

The creative expression commonly known as the cultural heritage of Uganda includes

artistic and cultural expressions. These are; language and literary arts, performing arts,

visual arts and handicrafts, indigenous knowledge, cultural beliefs, traditions and

values, cultural sites, monuments and antiquities.

2.1. Language and Literary Arts

Language is the means of expressing the creative arts of orature and literature.

Uganda has a rich variety of indigenous languages and dialects. English is the official

language of Uganda (61%) and is commonly taught in schools, used in courts of law,

used by most newspapers and some radio or TV broadcasts. However, there are other

local languages which include; - Luganda which is most widely used by Bantu

speakers and is preferred for native language publications in the urban areas. It is also

taught in urban schools as well. Other languages include Lusoga 8%; Luo 12%;

Runyankore/Rutoro/Rukiga (Runyakitara) 9% and Swahili 10%.

Literary arts as a by-product of language ensure the development of orature and

literature that often depicts the culture of Uganda’s people. The various languages are

a unique storehouse of knowledge and have facilitated the communication between

people within and outside the country. In addition, literary arts are one of the existing

cultural industries in the country.

The development of languages in Uganda has not been uniform and tended to

privilege some languages over others. In addition, the multiplicity of languages does

not facilitate direct communication amongst communities. Information in indigenous

languages has to be translated to English and vice versa if it is to be shared. This often

results in gross distortions and loss of meaning. In relation to literary arts, the

available literature is limited because some languages lack orthographies.

2.2 Performing Arts

The performing arts include; dance, drama, music, theatre, motion pictures, opera,

traditional sports and the marching arts such as brass bands. The performing arts in

Uganda are used for self-expression, education and sensitization of communities as

well as for entertainment. In the communities, traditional and modern performing arts

have been popularized as a means to facilitate participation by communities in

development.

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In addition, cultural, educational institutions and the private sector have supported

the performing arts. Consequently, jobs have been created for a growing number of

Ugandans. Participation by artists in the performing arts is limited because of

inadequate capacity. The available opportunities in capacity building are limited to

apprenticeship and are within formal institutions, which are few. The training focuses

on acquisition of skills in the art and seldom includes marketing and promotion of the

art. In addition, capacity building is limited to modern performing arts.

Cultural diversity has produced a wide variety of lifestyles and interests among

Ugandans. While literacy is slowly increasing, especially in the urban centres, where

there are numerous newspapers, oral traditions still remain a popular form of

entertainment. Uganda possesses a rich tradition of theatre, ranging from the very

active National Theatre in Kampala to hundreds of small, local theatrical groups.

Theatre has played an important role in educating and informing the public on a

range of issues from gender relations to sexually transmitted diseases.

Another popular and widespread form of entertainment is the many hundreds of

small video booths spread throughout the towns and small rural trading centres. A

video booth, which can operate on a vehicle battery, provides an opportunity—mainly

for young people—to see a variety of films; but, more important, the booths also show

occasional short informative films supplied by governmental agencies. Television is

widely available in urban centres and in some smaller rural centres, where it is not

uncommon to see a large group of people clustered in front of one set.

2.2.1 Uganda’s Music

Ugandan music is as diverse as the ethnicity of its people. The country is home to over

30 different ethnic groups and tribes and they form the basis of all indigenous music.

The Baganda, being the most prominent tribe in the country, have dominated the

culture and music of Uganda over the last two centuries. However, the other tribes

also have their own music styles passed down from generations dating back to the

18th century. These variations make for good diversity in music and culture. The first

form of popular music to arise out of traditional music was the Kadongo Kamu style

of music, which rose out of traditional Ganda music. Later, music genres drew from

Kadongo Kamu, making it one of the most influential music styles in Uganda.

Currently, because of the effects of globalization, Uganda, like most African countries,

has seen a growth in modern audio production. This has led to the adoption of

western music styles like Dancehall and Hip Hop. Current Ugandan popular music is

part of the larger Afropop music genre.

Due to Uganda's turbulent political past, there was never enough time for there to be a

thriving pop music industry until relative peace was restored in the late 1980's. By

27

then, musicians like Philly Bongole Lutaaya, Afrigo Band and Elly Wamala were the

few Ugandan artists to have had mainstream music success. The Lord Fred Ssebata,

late Prince John Paul Kafero, Jimmy Katumba and his music group the Ebonies were

also popular at this time, especially towards the 1990's. This period also saw Uganda's

love affair with Jamaican music begin when artists like Shanks Vivi Dee, Ragga Dee

and others were influenced by Jamaican superstars like Shabba Ranks and the late

Lucky Dube.

They imported the Ragga music culture into Uganda and although they faced stiff

competition from other African music styles and musicians at the time, in particular

Soukous from Congo and Kwaito from South Africa, they managed to form the

foundation of the pop music industry. In the 1980s and 1990s, Ugandans identified

with Congolese Musicians like Awilo Longomba, Pepe Kale, Franco, Kanda Bongo

man and Shala Mwana. Their music was blazing in schools, video halls and

discotheques. "In 1994 and 1995, we started seeing people like Chaka Demus, Pliers,

Shaba Ranks coming to Uganda and their music becoming popular.

It was not until the 21st century when musicians like Chameleone emerged that a pop

music scene really began to emerge. By around 2007, there were already a number of

musicians practicing varied styles of music and the role of western and

congolese/South African music had greatly diminished. Top artists in Uganda include

Dr. Jose Chameleon (Heavy Weight) Bebe Cool locally called Munene Munene (Big

Size), His Excellency Bobi Wine, famously known as The Ghetto President, Ragga Dee,

Radio and Weasel, Juliana Kanyomozi, Butcherman, Ronald Mayinja, Abdu Murasi,

Messach Ssemakula, GNL Zamba and Maddox Ssematimba, Babaluku and the Bataka

Squad founders of Luga Flow which promotes rapping in indigenous languages.

These artists are also doing well on the international scene. Today, musicians like Iryn

Namubiru and Jamal are just a few of the many pop musicians in a thriving and

vibrant pop music scene. The pop music duo of Radio & Weasel, the Goodlyfe Crew,

is well known around Africa, being nominated in the continental MTV Base awards as

recently as 2010. More interestingly, is the emergence of local musicians who sing

Christian music for instance Judith Babirye among many more others.

Today, the situation has completely changed as Ugandan musicians have taken over

the industry and the competition is now between our own local stars. These days

when you go to clubs or any public place where music is being played, it's only Jose

Chameleon, Juliana Kanyomozi, Bebe Cool, Bob Wine and Butcher Man being played.

And to play Lingala (Congolese music) is now considered archaic. Actually, our

musicians have started exporting Ugandan music to Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and

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Tanzania. Inspite of that success, it seems that amateur artistes are being undermined

and denied a chance to show their talent.

2.3 Visual Arts and Handicrafts

The visual arts and handicrafts include among others; basketry, mats, ceramics, beads,

pottery, hand-woven textiles and products, toys, jewellery, bags and ornaments,

leather products, batik, wood carvings and paintings. The raw materials used in the

production of visual arts and crafts are readily available in the country. Visual arts and

crafts are produced in almost all regions of the country with product differentiation

based on culture and history. This has promoted the identities of the various

communities and created avenues for income generation.

Some of the challenges facing the visual arts and crafts are; inadequate quantities and

poor quality of products due to limited capacity of producers and marketers. There is

limited research about the products and the markets and the materials from which

visual arts and handicrafts are derived are threatened by environmental degradation.

Uganda tribes offer a variety of art and crafts to reflect their traditions and history.

For-instance, Nyero rock paintings in Kumi have a lot to display regarding the people

who occupied that area, hundreds of years ago. They also offer a number of items like

food utensils, stools, drums, drinking vessels and music instruments. These are made

from tropical trees, soil and clay, and gourds/calabashes, which are harvested from a

wild plant. Many tribes of Uganda originally are known for great earthen works,

which helped in civilization of the local institutions through modifying household

equipment.

2.4 Indigenous Knowledge

Indigenous knowledge (IK) is the traditional local knowledge existing within and

developed around the specific conditions of a community indigenous to a particular

geographical area. Although IK is useful to people, limited research has been done in

Uganda. IK is inadequately documented, quantified and developed. In some cases, it

has been marginalized and threatened with extinction by modern knowledge and

environmental degradation. Coupled with this, is the absence of organizing

frameworks that would provide information to innovators on who needs the

innovations, how to find the users and when to approach the users.

2.5 Cultural beliefs, traditions and values

Ugandans have different beliefs and traditions that are deeply rooted in their cultural

and religious values. The beliefs, traditions and values have contributed to the

propagation of social harmony and development. These beliefs, traditions and values

29

sometimes conflict with modern laws. Some of these include; widow inheritance and

female genital cutting. This has led some people to regard culture as retrogressive. In

addition, Ugandan cultures are continuously adopting and adapting because of local

and foreign influences. In some cases, this has led to the degradation of the moral

fabric of the society with the most affected category being the youth.

Uganda Music is an integrated part of the Culture of Uganda. Each of the tribes, have

their own song and dances for most of the occasions. Kitaguriro is a form of dance of

the Bayankole, while the Banyoro perform Runyege dance, Acholi also have their

traditional dances such as Bwila and Otole, Agwal is the traditional dance of the Alur

people, the Bagisu people have their Imbalu dance during the circumcision

ceremonies. The commonly played instruments are ennanga, amadinda, ndigidi,

entongoli and likeme. Uganda Culture thus remains an amalgamation of several

cultures.

2.6 Religion

Uganda is predominantly a Christian country. According to the National Census of

October 2002, Christians of all denominations made up 85.1% of Uganda's population.

The Catholic Church has the largest number of adherents (35.9% of the total

population), followed by the Anglican Church of Uganda, a part of the worldwide

Anglican communion (35.4%). 12.1% of Ugandans adhere to Islam There are

numerous Pentecostal churches (4.6%), while 1.0% were grouped under the category

of "Other Christians”.

2.7 Cultural Sites, Monuments and Antiquities

Uganda has several cultural sites and monuments. Some of them are manmade while

others are natural. These sites, monuments and antiquities are important for socio-

cultural and educational purposes. They promote tourism and consequently create

employment for people. The natural sites also enhance the protection of the

environment. Despite their importance, the sites and monuments are not adequately

maintained, documented and people’s awareness of their value is low. In addition,

some of the antiquities are not collected and those that are kept in the Uganda

National Museum are not accessible to all people.

Uganda has got a number of cultural tourism sites spread over the country. These

cultural sites are located in towns, kingdoms, chiefdoms and rural areas of Uganda as

well. A landlocked, relatively small land of spectacular mountains, valleys and

rainforests, Uganda epitomizes what Lonely Planet calls “Africa condensed.” Its

protected treasures include national parks that are home to endangered mountain

gorillas and chimpanzees; preserved relics of Uganda’s varied, centuries-old tribal

30

cultures; and remnants of the colonial and modern eras. The natural and man-made

monuments of Uganda are especially attractive to nature-lovers and adventure-

seekers. There's a lot to enjoy, especially the spread around monuments andcforts

depicting not only the heritage, history, culture but also the depth of our origins and

all those important moments of our life time.

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CHAPTER THREE

FINDINGS

3.0 Introduction

This section concentrates mainly on answering the objectives of the study. The section

provides information about the country’s ratification of international instruments that

promote and protect freedom of creative expression; highlights the country’s

constitution and its protection – or not – of freedom of creative expression and looks at

any existing law that governs/affects freedom in producing or distributing art in all its

forms (film, theatre, music, visual art, literature, dance, etc) and any legal mechanism

– national, regional or local – that plays a censorship role with regard to the freedom

of creative expression and distribution.

The section also provides information about any laws and/or legal mechanism that

control to seek to censor the media – television, radio, print, web, etc – thereby

potentially impacting directly or indirectly on the art and highlights concrete

examples of how artists have been, or are affected by these. It gives information about

religious and/or traditions laws that impact negatively on freedom of creative

expression, provides concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by

these, provides information about ways in which artists are censored or have their

freedoms adversely been affected that are not legally or culturally based e.g. political

or other forms of intimidation and as well provides information about ways in which

accessing public funds or other perks are used to intimidate or censor artists.

The section provides contact details of human rights organisations active in the

country including international, regional, national and local organisations, contact

details of arts organisations working in the field of human rights or in defence and

promotion of human rights and also contact details of media (journalists, newspapers,

bloggers, etc) working to promote or defend human rights in Uganda. The section

further provides examples of contraventions of freedom of creative expression as well

as concrete examples of artists who have suffered under the contravention of freedom

of expression by political authorities, religious authorities, cultural practices, economic

or other forms of censorship and fellow artists or arts organisations.

3.1 Uganda’s ratification of international instruments that promote and protect

freedom of creative expression

Uganda is signatory to many international instruments that promote and protect freedom

of creative expression and is thus bound to translate them into domestic laws and policies.

Below are some of the international instruments;-

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The 1972 UNESCO Convention

Uganda ratified this Convention on 20/11/ 1987. The Convention provides for the

protection of cultural and natural heritage and it also requires state parties to

conserve, protect, rehabilitate and transmit to future generations, cultural and natural

heritage. States have duties including to, submit an inventory of cultural and/or

natural heritage for inclusion in the ‘World Heritage List’, integrate the protection of

the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes and promote

education of the cultural and natural sites.

To date Uganda has three sites on the list of the World heritage namely, Kasubi tombs,

enlisted in 2001, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Rwenzori Mountains

National Park. In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed the art of backcloth making in Uganda, a

masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO provides

assistance in developing and implementing a comprehensive management plan that

sets out adequate preservation measures and monitoring mechanisms. Experts offer

technical training to local site management teams.

However, the Convention does not provide for stringent measures in cases where

state parties do not abide by the Convention. The Convention also seems to

standardize heritage as being uniform across the globe. The Convention and legal

requirements such as development of a management plan have not been implemented

into the national legal framework. For instance, the Ugandan government has

designated World Heritage sites but has not put in place national laws to preserve and

protect the sites and the rights of the indigenous people who have been directly

benefiting from them.

The 2003 UNESCO for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)

Uganda ratified this Convention on 13/05/2009. The Convention obliges countries

that have ratified it to identify, define and devise appropriate means of ensuring ICH

preservation. Article 2(1) of the Convention states that, intangible cultural heritage:

means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills as well as the

instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith that

communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural

heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation,

is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment,

their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of

identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human

creativity…’

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Specifically it requires States to identify and define the intangible cultural heritage and

put forward a proposal to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of

the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Committee) for designation of sites on the

“Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and/or List of

Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding”.

The convention is very important. Recognizing intangible cultural heritage, the

Convention provides possibilities to “decolonize” Uganda’s heritage, which has been

for many years dominated by museums and monuments. A further benefit of the

Convention is that ICH contributes to social cohesion and nation-building. The

Convention is explicit that communities, groups, and non-governmental organizations

should be involved in its implementation.

The Convention is important especially in a world that has become ‘a global village’,

as it offers an opportunity for State Parties including Uganda to benefit from the

sharing of international best practices. This provides an opportunity to share positive

community initiatives to protect Uganda’s heritage, and ensure that they are not left

behind in global development. However, just like the 1972 Convention, the 2003

Convention does not provide for stringent measures in cases where State parties do

not abide by the Convention. The convention also assumes that heritage is the same.

The 2005 UNESCO Convention

This Convention is on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural

expressions. The Convention reaffirms the importance of the link between culture and

development, and support action undertaken nationally and internationally to secure

recognition of the true values of this link. It protects and promotes the diversity of

cultural expressions (including cultural activities, goods and services), so that they

flourish and freely interact in a mutually beneficial manner. The Convention also

makes provisions for cultural goods and services from developing countries to access

the global markets.

The Convention also strengthens international cooperation and partnerships to protect

and promote the diversity of cultural expressions. Ratification of the Convention not

only reflects our cultural diversity, it also unlocks access to different types of support

for our cultural sector. It also establishes an international fund for cultural diversity,

open (after ratification) to public institutions, business enterprises, civil society

organizations and individuals. The fund can be used to strengthen cultural industries,

education and public awareness campaigns and infrastructure.

The 2005 Convention recognizes the role and calls on the participation of civil society.

Article 11 of the Convention acknowledges the fundamental role of civil society in

34

protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions. Ratification will not

only come with financial benefits, but will also create an opportunity for

mainstreaming culture in sustainable economic development. However, Uganda has

not yet ratified this Convention. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social

Development (MGLSD) has conducted national wide consultations for the ratification

of the Convention and the process for ratification is still ongoing.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992

Uganda is a signatory to this convention. The Convention calls upon its signatories to

“respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous

and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation

and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with

the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and

practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the

utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices”.

Article 10(c) also requires States to “protect and encourage customary use of biological

resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with

conservation or sustainable use requirements”. Uganda as a signatory of the

Convention on Biological Diversity is required to have national biodiversity strategies

and action plans. The plans are already in place but inadequately address the issues of

creative expressions. The Decisions of the Conference of the Parties (COPs) are also

binding upon the State Parties. Despite its existence, heritage sites in Uganda for

instance have continued to be destroyed and replaced by other development projects.

The World Bank Policy on Physical Cultural Resources, July 2006

This policy addresses physical cultural resources, which are defined as movable or

immovable objects, sites, structures, groups of structures, and natural features and

landscapes that have archaeological, paleontological, historical, architectural,

religious, aesthetic, or other cultural significance. Physical cultural resources may be

located in urban or rural settings, and may be above or below ground, or under water.

Their cultural interest may be at the local, provincial or national level, or within the

international community.

It is a World Bank policy to consider and appraise through consultation with project-

affected people the impact of bank financed policies on the cultural and physical

resources (property). Recognizing that disclosure of sensitive information may

compromise or jeopardize the safety or integrity of the physical cultural resources

involved or would endanger the source of information, the World Bank respects the

confidentiality of such information. Physical Cultural Resources (PCR) are identified

35

and protected in World Bank financed projects and the Bank ensures that National

laws governing the protection of physical cultural property are complied with.

While implementing some projects in Uganda, there has always been inadequate

consultation of the project affected people for example in Bujagali dam construction,

Jajja Bujagali, the spiritual leader of the Basoga was marginalized from the

consultation processes and this has led to the loss of the sacred site because the dam

submerged the falls.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

This is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the 10th

December 1948 at Palais de ChaillotPa in Paris. The Declaration arose directly from the

experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of

rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled. It consists of 30 articles which

have been elaborated in subsequent international treaties, regional human rights

instruments, national constitutions and laws. The International Bill of Human Rights

consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols.

In 1966, the General Assembly adopted the two detailed Covenants, which complete

the International Bill of Human Rights; and in 1976, after the Covenants had been

ratified by a sufficient number of individual nations, the Bill took on the force of

international law. Uganda is signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(UDHR) and therefore has a moral obligation to advance the rights spelt therein.

Article 27 of UDHR recognizes everyone’s right to freely participate in cultural life.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

Uganda is bound by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights (ICESCR) which it ratified in 1987. Article 15 of ICESCR recognizes everyone’s

right to freely participate in cultural life. Although Uganda is a signatory to this

declaration, it has not been fully domesticated because the Government itself has gone

ahead to lease some of the heritage sites to developers and has not taken into

consideration people’s values attached to them.

The United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People (UNDRIP)

The UN Declaration of Indigenous People recognizes the right of indigenous people to

practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to

maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their

cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies,

36

technologies and visual and performing arts and literature. It also goes further to

provide for Indigenous peoples` right to manifest, practice, develop and teach their

spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain,

protect, and have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to the

use and control of their ceremonial objects; and the right to the repatriation of their

human remains.

Article 25 of the UNDRIP recognizes the special relationship that indigenous people

have with their lands, and establishes their “…..rights to maintain and strengthen their

distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied

and used lands, territories, waters, and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold

their responsibilities to future generations in this regard”. Although UNDRIP is not

legally binding, it is highly persuasive. The African Commission of the African

Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights has officially endorsed the UNDRIP through

its Advisory Opinion 2007. The Opinion stated “that there is no contradiction between

the UNDRIP and the African Charter. It further stated that the Declaration is fully

consistent with existing African human rights instruments and practice”.

African Union (AU)

At the regional level, Uganda is a member of the African Union one of whose

objectives is to promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural

level. In the East African region, Uganda is obliged to implement the articles of the

Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community, which it ratified together

with other member states in 2000.

In Article 119, partner states agreed to promote close co-operation in culture and

sports. A number of other initiatives in the culture sub-sector include: cultural

exchange, research and documentation, such as recording traditional cultural

expressions, cultural tourism, capacity building of cultural practitioners, and initiation

of the review of culture specific laws, monitoring and evaluation of interventions

among others. Government specifically implements some of these initiatives while

others are implemented by civil society, supported by the private sector.

3.2 Uganda’s constitution and its protection – or not – of freedom of creative

expression

Objective XXIV of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda states that

“cultural and customary values that are consistent with the fundamental human rights

and freedoms, human dignity and democracy and with the Constitution of Uganda

may be developed and incorporated in all aspects of Ugandan life”. Under the same

Objective (a); The State shall promote and preserve those cultural values and practices

37

which enhance the dignity and wellbeing of Ugandans. Objective XXV mandates the

State and citizens to preserve and promote public property and Uganda’s heritage in

recognition of cultural and spiritual rights.

Further, the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2005, Article 6 provides for use of any

other language as medium of instruction in schools, and Article 3 of the Constitution

(Amendment) (No.2) Act 2005 mandates Regional Assemblies under the Regional tier

system of governance to handle cultural matters relating to the traditional or cultural

leader, clan and sub clan leadership, cultural and traditional practices (cultural funeral

rites) and cultural institutions by establishing specialized committees for them.

Article 37 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda provides as follows: Every person has a

right as applicable, to belong to, enjoy, practice, profess, maintain and promote any

culture, cultural institution, language, tradition, creed or religion in community with

others. Although there are a variety of Objectives within the National Constitution

which recognize the importance of cultural heritage and diversity, the recognition of

the deeper role of heritage sites beyond tourism development is lacking. Specific

protection of these sites is very poor.

3.3 Other existing law (s) that govern (s)/affect(s) freedom in producing or

distributing art in all its forms (film, theatre, music, visual art, literature, dance, etc)

Apart from the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the country has other

existing laws that govern (s)/affect(s) freedom in producing or distributing art in all

its forms (film, theatre, music, visual art, literature, dance, etc). Below are some of

these laws;-

The Historical Monuments Act, 1967: Date of Assent: 21st October, 1967 and Date of

Commencement: 15th May 1968

The Historical Monuments Act of 1967 is currently the national legal instrument

directly related to the conservation, protection and promotion of Uganda’s heritage. It

is the central legal instrument for conservation of historical monuments and objects of

archaeological, paleontological, ethnographical and traditional interest and for other

matters connected therewith.

The weaknesses of this Act emanate from both its design and its implementation

mechanism. The Act does not give proper ways of identifying heritage sites; therefore

it becomes hard to conserve them. The Act does not provide sufficient protection and

conservation of our heritage. The Act narrows the concept of heritage to immovable

heritage (Archaeological sites, Monuments etc), to the exclusion of movable and

intangible heritage. Looking at heritage from the tangible perspective alone narrows

38

the scope for conservation and appreciation of dynamic and contemporary heritage

expressions. It also does not take into account the mixed nature of many sites in

Uganda.

The Act does not also seem to recognize the roles of customary laws and norms in the

protection of heritage. The penalties in the Act are too minimal to deter people from

demolishing the sacred sites. For example, if a person who burnt Kasubi Tombs was

caught, he/she would only pay 2,000 Ugandan shillings/ £0.56/ 0.63 Euros. The

monetary penalties prescribed in the Act are further made ineffective by the current

low value of the Ugandan currency.

Since the Act is outmoded, it means that even the latest policy documents such as the

2006 Cultural Policy will not be effective .The policy is related to the Act because they

were all enacted by the Republic of Uganda to strengthen the culture function. Section

1 (1) of the Act states that: “The Minister may, by statutory instrument, declare any

object of archaeological, paleontological, ethnographical, traditional or historical

interest to be a preserved object”. The section gives the sitting Minister the mandate to

declare objects as protected/preserved. However, the role of communities in the

designation process is not included.

Section 2 states: “The Minister may, for the purposes of preservation of any object

declared under this Act, request the Minister responsible for land matters to acquire,

pursuant to the provisions of the Land Acquisition, 1965, any land which appears to

the Minister required for the purposes of preserving or affording access to the object”.

While this facilitates conservation of public heritage, it may on the other hand

frustrate community initiatives to conserve heritage. This section gives the minister

infallible powers, which if misused can result in the loss of heritage sites. Certain

national heritage sites have now attained recognition as World Heritage Sites, but the

Act has not been updated to provide for this status.

Secondly, nomination of sites to the World Heritage List (WHL) requires that there

should be a national legal framework under which the site is protected. The

nomination exercise also requires that a site must have a management Plan and all

these are not reflected in the Act.

Updating the national heritage sites list has been regrettably at a low pace. For

instance, by 1972, only 22 sites had been gazetted. In 1993, pursuant to The Traditional

Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act of 1993, 4 sites were de-gazetted from

the national list / World Heritage List. It was not until 2007 that the national list

updated to officially include the Constitutional Square was added on the list.

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Generally speaking, the Act has been ineffective in deterring destruction of cultural

heritage, to the extent that a number of demolitions to historical buildings in the

country have taken place. For example, most of Old Kampala’s buildings which

represented a significant and distinguishable entity have been demolished in the name

of urban development. A case in point is Captain Lugard’s Fort on the Old Kampala

hill which has been replaced by Gaddafi Mosque where it was a historical monument

representing Uganda’s colonial history. Most of the heritage sites in Uganda belong to

cultural institutions. These institutions are ever cash-trapped and do not meaningfully

provide adequate protection to the sites. Currently, there is no national legal provision

for the protection of heritage sites by the central government or local authorities hence

no national or local annual budgetary provisions for maintenance of such sites.

The Stage Plays and Public Entertainment Act 1943 (Cap 49)

This is an Act that regulates and controls stage plays and public entertainments.

According to this Act, no person shall use, or cause, suffer or permit to be used any

theatre for the performance or presentation of any stage play or public entertainment

without a licence (hereafter referred to as “a theatre licence”) in writing of the

licensing authority/council previously obtained and no person to be excluded from

public performance on ground of race.

The licensing authority may grant a theatre licence either generally or in respect of any

single performance or for such period not exceeding twelve months as the licensing

authority may think fit. The licensing authority may refuse to grant a theatre licence,

for example, if it suspects that the safety, health and convenience of the persons

attending the performance or presentation at a theatre are inadequately provided for,

and that the structure, equipment and lighting of the theatre do not conform to all the

rules made under this Act.

Under this Act, any police officer, member of the council or other officer appointed for

the purpose by the Minister, may at all reasonable times enter upon any premises or

places in which he or she has reason to believe that any stage play or public

entertainment is being or is about to be presented with a view to seeing whether the

provisions of this Act or any rules made under this Act and the conditions of any

licences or permits granted under this Act have been complied with. Any person

preventing or obstructing the entry of any officer or member mentioned above

commits an offence against this Act. If such officer or member is satisfied that a stage

play or public entertainment is being performed or presented contrary to the

provisions of this Act or of any rules, licences or permits issued under this Act, he or

she may order that the stage play or public entertainment shall stop.

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The council may by order in writing direct that any script of, or article used in, any

stage play or public entertainment shall be surrendered to it. On the surrender of any

script or article to the council under this section, the council may apply to the High

Court for an order authorising the forfeiture of the script or article or may release the

script or article subject to such conditions as it deems fit.

Uganda National Culture Centre (Cap 50)

This is the law that establishes the Uganda National Cultural Centre Trust, for the

purpose of administering, controlling and managing the trust property in accordance

with this Act, and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing;-

(a) To provide and establish theatres and cultural centers;

(b) To encourage and develop cultural and artistic activities; and

(c) Subject to such directions as may be given to it by the Minister from time to time, to

provide accommodation for societies, institutions or organizations of a cultural,

artistic, academic, philanthropic or educational nature.

The Uganda National Culture Policy, 2006

The Policy provides the framework for the promotion of culture for development and

complies with international and regional instruments on culture. The core principle

underlying this Policy is: - “Respecting one’s and the others’ Culture”. Respect for

culture is crucial for mutual interdependence, which is a prerequisite for social

harmony and cohesion. The Policy focuses on advocacy for respect of the individuals’

culture and other cultures. The policy is all inclusive and is against discrimination of

the indigenous groups.

The policy also promotes social change and encourages adapting new ideas and

approaches within laws of Uganda. There are various stakeholders in the delivery of

cultural goods and services. It is therefore important to ensure the strengthening of

existing partnerships, creation of new ones and sustaining the partnerships at all

levels. Although the policy emphasizes protection and respect for culture, it does not

have mitigation measures to stop rampant destruction of heritage sites. Besides, sacred

sites are not adequately addressed in the policy.

The Tourism Policy 2003

The policy identifies culture as one of Uganda’s tourism resource base. It therefore

encourages cultural based tourism through activities of Kingdoms and other civil

society institutions. It also provides for planning and promotion of cultural and

natural heritage of Uganda by identifying sites and monuments throughout the

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country and establishes a data bank. Despite the above function, the policy does not

recognize culture as being independent from tourism. Besides, the policy does not also

provide for conservation of heritage especially by communities and private

individuals; it only emphasizes utilization of cultural tourism resources.

Local Government Act (LGA) 1997

Uganda is administered under both the centralised and decentralised systems of

government. The provision for decentralised governance, i.e. local government is

provided for under the Constitution and Local Government Act. The largest unit of

local government is the district, with the district further broken down into counties,

sub-counties, parishes and villages. There are up to 112 districts and over 4,000

villages at the grassroots level. These administrative divisions are very crucial,

especially the sub-counties, for service delivery. Given the government policy on and

structures of decentralisation, the law has sought to put in place mechanisms and

measures for accountability, transparency, financial probity, etc. at those levels,

especially at the districts and sub-counties (including Tender Boards, service

commissions, audits, etc.).

The Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act, 1993

An Act to give effect to article 118A of the Constitution of 1967 and to restore to

traditional rulers assets and properties previously owned by them or connected with

or attached to their offices but which were confiscated by the State and to make other

provisions relating or incidental to, or consequential upon, the foregoing.

National Development Plan 2010/2011-2015/2016

The plan acknowledges that culture is intrinsically valuable and important dimension

of identity and development with the potential to move people out of income poverty.

The plan recognizes that armed conflict and war, earthquakes and other natural

disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization and unchecked tourist

development pose major problems to World Heritage sites. Dangers can be

‘ascertained’, referring to specific and proven imminent threats, or ‘potential’, when a

property is faced with threats which could have negative effects on its World Heritage

values. However, culture, as a crosscutting issue is not yet adequately reflected in

other sectoral plans and Policies. There is general lack of appreciation of the

significance and value of Uganda’s cultural heritage towards realization of Uganda’s

development goals. The plan does not mention measures of preserving the heritage

sites; and besides, it does not outline how heritage sites’ protection can support

reduction of poverty.

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Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), 2004

The PEAP (2004) recognizes culture as being intrinsically valuable and an important

dimension of identity and as a form of capital which, when well harnessed, can help to

move people out of poverty.

The Social Development Sector Strategic Investment Plan (SDIP)

In the SDIP, culture contributes to social protection through promotion of cultural

industries, indigenous knowledge and also through support to actors and institutions

that promote culture. However culture, as a crosscutting issue is not yet adequately

reflected in other sectoral plans and Policies.

Uganda’s Vision 2025

Uganda’s Vision 2025 guides interventions that are aimed at achieving stable and

harmonious co-existence within a socially, culturally and economically dynamic

society. Key elements of this goal include recognition and enhancement of unity in

diversity, national pride and dignity and respect for/and conservation of cultural

heritage. However, there is little that is being done by government on bringing on

board the different cultural institutions, their practices and traditions and protection of

heritage sites.

Ministerial Policy Statement (MPS) for Ministry of Tourism, Trade & Industry

(MTTI) 2010/11

Under the Ministerial Policy Statement of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry

2010/2011, cultural heritage preservation and development are indicated as one of the

activities. However, the 2010/2011 MPS does not directly provide funding for cultural

related tourism activities. The money allocated to Museums and Monuments is not

even enough to cover recurrent expenditures. The lion’s share of the Ministry budget

for 2010/2011 was allocated to other areas such as Uganda National Bureau of

Standards and Uganda Industrial Research Institute an indication that the

Government does not provide the requisite resources to promote culture and its role

in development.

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Ministerial Policy statement (MPS) for Ministry of Gender, Labour and

Social Development (MGLSD) 2010/2011

The Ministry of MGLSD is one of the line Ministries through which cultural heritage

conservation and promotion issues are provided for. However, the 2010/2011 MPS

does not provide for heritage conservation and development. There are no

development budgetary allocations specifically made towards cultural heritage. The

only budget line in this regard is to support cultural heads (monthly salaries). This is

also a clear indication that the Government is not committed to conserve heritage and

recognize the role of culture in socio-economic development.

3.4 Legal mechanism – national, regional or local – that plays a censorship role with

regard to the freedom of creative expression and distribution

In Uganda, there have been attempts that play a major censorship role in regard to the

freedom of creative expression and distribution. Below, are some of the laws and legal

mechanisms;-

The Copyright and Neighbouring Act, 2006

Copyright law in Uganda is currently governed by; The Copyright and Neighbouring

Act, 2006 which repealed and replaced the Copyright Act, Cap 215 of 1964 and The

Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Regulations, 2010. The Act applies to any work,

including work created or published before the commencement of the Act, which has

not yet fallen into the public domain where the work is created by a citizen of Uganda

or a person resident in Uganda; first published in Uganda, irrespective of the

nationality or residence of the author; created by a person who is a national of or

resident in a country referred to in section 81 (reciprocal protection) or; first published

in a country referred to in section 81 (reciprocal protection).

Public Order Management Bill, 2011

A new Bill which seeks to outlaw the use of megaphones, loudspeakers, loud hailer

and public address apparatus except with a written permission of the Inspector

General of Police or an authorised officer has been tabled before Parliament. The

Public Order Management Bill 2011 tabled in parliament outlaws all apparatus

whether artificial or not used for amplifying, broadcasting or reproducing any music

or speech or any other sound within in Uganda. “A person shall not, in a public place

or so as to be a public nuisance use megaphones, loudspeaker…,” the Bill reads in

part. This will greatly affect street preachers, music and movie sellers and people

announcing concerts around the country who have been using megaphones and

public address systems on trucks to woo customers.

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The Bill describes a public place as “Highway, public park or garden, public bridge,

road lane, footway, square, court, alley or passage and any open space to which, for

the time being, the public have or are permitted to have access by payment or

otherwise.”The minister has powers to declare any place a gazetted area “if the

minister is of the opinion that it is desirable in the interests of public tranquillity.” If a

place is declared a gazetted area, then it will be unlawful for any person to convene a

public meeting at which more than 25 persons will be present unless a permit has been

obtained by the organiser.

Other provisions in the Bill include; All Public meetings ending by 6.00pm while no

meeting can start before 6.00am, the Event organisers providing a steward for every 50

demonstrators or participants in a public meeting. “They must ensure that all

participants are unarmed and peaceful; undertake to compensate any part or person

that may suffer loss or damage from any fall out of the public meeting,” the Bill states.

Event organisers who fail to comply with the above requirements may face up to two

years in jail.

The Bill also requires organisers to give a seven day notice in writing to the Inspector

General of Police (IGP) of their intention to hold a public meeting. The notice however

should not exceed 15days before the proposed date of the public meeting. In the

notice, the organiser must state their full name, physical and postal address and their

immediate contact. Other requirements are the proposed site for the meeting, the

estimated number of persons expected, and the purpose of the meeting.

The Bill was tabled by James Baba, the state minister of internal affairs who said it is

aimed at prescribing measures for safeguarding public order without compromising

the principles of democracy, freedom of association and freedom of speech. “The

inspector General of Police will have the power to direct the conduct of public

meetings subject to the law”. The Bill was committed to the Parliamentary Committee

of Public Service and Local Government for scrutiny and the committees are supposed

to report back to the House within 45 days,” according to the Speaker of Parliament,

Rt Hon. Rabecca Kadaga.

The Bill also states five restricted areas in which no public meeting must take place

unless with the permission of an authorised officer. They are; Parliament and its

precincts, State House Entebbe, State lodges countrywide, International airports and

Courts of Judicature. However, the Bill does not restrict “public meetings held wholly

inside a building or convened in good faith for; religious observance, by the

government or administration of a district, primarily for sports purposes or for any

other social event including a funeral, wedding or party.”

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The Bill makes it incumbent upon an authorised officer to give notice within 48 hours

after receipt of the notice to hold a public meeting to the organiser that it is not

possible to hold the proposed public meeting. Some of the grounds under which a

public meeting may not be held are; if notice of another public meeting on the date, at

the same time and venue proposed has been received, or if the venue is considered

unsuitable for the purposes of crowd and traffic control or will interfere with other

lawful business. However, the Bill provides that in case a person is aggrieved by the

decision of the authorised officer he or she may appeal within 14 days to the IGP and

if they are still not satisfied with the IGP’s explanation then, they can appeal to High

Court within 30 days.

The Bill gives as duties of a police officer; provision of security to both participants

and members of public, assessing the risks of the meeting, identifying a traffic plan for

both vehicles and humans and dispersing defiant or unruly crowds at a public

meeting “where the police officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a breach of

peace is likely to occur…, in order to prevent violence, restore order and preserve

peace.” The Bill restricts the use of fire arms by the police officer to only when in self

defence against imminent threat of death or injury, or in defence of others. He or she

may use firearms when arresting a person presenting danger, and resisting the

officer’s authority.

Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009

In October 2009, an Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in parliament by Member of

Parliament, Hon David Bahati. The proposed law sought the death penalty against

people convicted of aggravated homosexuality with minors and those who knowingly

infect others with HIV. The proposed anti-homosexual legislation, which also urged

parents and school authorities to disclose any child believed to be gay, was criticised

by the international community, including U.S. President Barack Obama, the

Netherlands, the UK, France, Canada and Sweden which threatened to cut financial

assistance.

3.5 Laws and/or legal mechanism, that control to seek to censor the media –

television, radio, print, web, etc – thereby potentially impacting directly or

indirectly on the arts

Journalists in developing countries have one common problem with governments;

persecution! And then, when the journalists are persecuted, it obviously becomes

media censorship. However, the reason why most African governments have always

taken the media to be the fourth estate is because most leaders of the continent today

are products of post-colonialism. From the West of the Sahara to the horn of Africa

and from the Nile of Egypt down to Africa´s once bread-basket (Zimbabwe), most of

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the leaders are people who faced the brant of colonialism. When most of them came

into power, they instead adopted many elements of colonial rule into their system of

leadership. That is why Africans today appear less liberated by their leaders. The

leaders looked at the press as an enemy because that is how the colonialists saw it. In

the process, free press has had a much lesser impact in the development of Africa than

expected.

It is also important to note that if Post colonial African governments had embraced the

free media, Africa´s democratic and accountability problems would have been more

that a half solved. The fact that the press has always been censored, the politicians

have hid behind their power to entrench themselves into power, illegally accumulate

wealth and perpetuate all kinds of human rights abuses. Even those leaders who have

come after over 20 years of colonialism unfortunately have adopted the same

mentality. A good example is the former Kenyan president Arap Moi and Mwai

Kibaki, Ugandan Dictator Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Rwanda´s Paul Kagame to

mention but a few.

In Uganda, for instance, Journalists face all kinds of threats from torture, intimidation,

and censorship and less is really known about the real situation, even in the very local

media. It is only of very vocal journalists whose case can easily be heard of. Otherwise

even then, the vocal ones too face harassment and intimidation most often and they

tend to keep quiet with it. It sort of becomes normal but in reality, it is not. In many

instances, Museveni has threatened to close critical media houses. Already, some laws

have been passed that target the media. The following legal mechanism has been

observed to play a censorship role to the media;-

The Phone tapping law, 2010

The controversial Bill which attracted criticism from media and human rights activists

was passed by Parliament on July 14, just three days after the twin terrorist bombing

at Kyadondo Rugby grounds and Ethiopian Village Bar and Restaurant, in which at

least 76 people were killed. President Museveni assented to it two weeks later in

August 5 and according to the Ugandan gazette; it came into force on September 3,

2010. Popularly referred to as “phone tapping law” the Act initiated by the former

security minister who is currently the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi empowers

security agencies to tap private conversations for security purposes. The Act makes it

compulsory for all mobile phone users in the country to register their SIM cards for

security purposes such that if a simcard is used for criminal communication and

coordination, the user can be traced. Communications that could be intercepted

under the law include internet and postal exchanges.

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The minister is empowered to make regulations to follow in the implementation and

now all telecom companies operating in the country have an obligation to register all

customers who join their networks. Telecom companies are obliged to give

government security agencies cooperation to place tapping gadgets on their network

equipment with the aim of enabling the security officers access private conversations

or exchanges. Information accessed in this covert way is admissible as evidence in

courts of law which has not been the case. Although there is a legitimate concern to

fight terror, the government is likely to go beyond the spirit of the law and eardrop

into purely personal or other non security discourses. This also allows government to

eavesdrop on calls, making it difficult for journalists to hide their sources.

Press and Journalist (Amendment) Bill, 2010

This was made on January 29th 2010 and is aimed at amending the Press and Journalist

Act Cap 105. The Bill is meant to provide for registration of newspapers; to require

that the editor of a newspaper shall ensure that what is published is not prejudicial to

national security; to rationalize the composition of the media council; provide for

licensing of newspapers; increase the membership of the disciplinary committee;

provide for expeditious disposal of complaints before the disciplinary committee;

provide for offences and penalties and to provide for other related matters. The

provisions of the Bill have a potential to violate press and media freedoms and the

freedom of speech as guaranteed under the Uganda Constitution 1995 and

international human rights legislation.

According to Dr. G.W. Kanyeihamba, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, the

proposed amendments are draconian and amount to a reversal of Uganda’s

achievements for more than a generation because they enslave the media and do not

advance good governance. The government, on the other hand, argues that Ugandan

media are in infancy and therefore incapable of self-regulation.

To start a newspaper under present law, one has to register with the General Post

Office as a formality. The new proposals seek to change this by requiring the statutory

Media Council to license newspapers annually and to revoke a licence in case of

breach of licensing conditions. Other objectionable provisions include restriction of

foreign ownership of newspapers in Uganda, and a jail term of up to two years or a

fine of nearly Shs1,000,000 ($500) for those who do not obey the licensing

requirements. The proposals give a lot of powers to the Media Council. It is up to the

council to determine, for example, what amounts to “material that is prejudicial to

national security, stability and unity”.

Some of the proposed amendments contravene constitutional provisions and fall short

of international best practice behaviour. The constitution provides that limitations on

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human rights, including the right to freedom of the press and other media, must be

“acceptable and demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society”. The

Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, of which Uganda is

signatory, says, for example, that “any registration system for the print media shall not

impose substantive restrictions on the right to freedom of expression”. Besides, any

limitations must be clearly and narrowly defined – and not left open to multiple

interpretations as is the case in the draft Bill.

On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, Human Rights Watch released a report on

media freedom in Uganda and decried the sustained crackdown on journalists

especially those operating in up-country stations. “Titled A Media Mine Field:

Increased Threats to Freedom of Expression in Uganda in Uganda”, the 60-page report

says that supporters of the ruling NRM party, including government officials, are

threatening and intimidating journalists to curb criticism of the government.

In an April 5, 2010 letter to the Ugandan Parliament, the Committee to Protect

Journalists said: “We believe the bill would severely hamper the operations of

newspapers and damage the country’s press freedom credentials … The substantive

restrictions placed on newspapers through new licensing rules contravene Uganda’s

commitments to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and as a

signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Executive Director of the African Centre for Media Excellence, Dr. Peter Mwesige,

pointed to the dangers of passing the Bill in his blog on the CPJ website. “The notion

of irresponsible journalism, which the government says it is trying to address, is quite

loaded,” he wrote. “The government often invokes it to refer to journalism that makes

those in power uncomfortable either because it is too critical or because it challenges

their authority.”

The regional coordinator of the Eastern Africa Journalists Association (EAJA) Tervil

Okoko believes that the Bill was being fast-tracked ahead of the 2011 elections in bad

faith. The amended Bill would require media houses as well as journalists to be

licensed by the state, and the media council would have the power to revoke the

license if it deems published material to be a threat to national security. in the same

vein, Freedom House said Cabinet should reject the amendment and "do away with

any legislation that prevents news organizations from functioning without fear of

recrimination.

The Electronic Media Act, 2006

The 2006 Electronic Media Act empowers Uganda Broadcasting Council to revoke the

license of any station, which is deemed to be working in breach of the set standards,

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without notice. The Broadcasting Council routinely shuts down radio stations and

suspends journalists and presenters for airing things the government does not like. It

does this in the name of ensuring public order. In any case, for radio and TV, say

media experts, licensing is needed because of limited spectrum. There is no logic,

however, in licensing newspapers unless the government is offering them free

newsprint.

Anti Pornography Bill, 2010

This is a bill that seeks to impose heavy fines or a 10-year jail sentence or both on any

person found guilty of dealing in pornographic materials. A section of the bill

suggests dealing with activities on the internet. Internet owners will be liable to 5

years imprisonment if found guilty. The bill also all suggests restricting films entering

Uganda. The proponent of the bill, Hon Sarah Wasika Mwebaza, appealed to

government to institute a special regulatory body to check and regulate films and the

content of movies imported into the country. She argued that the regulation of the

content of especially Nigerian movies will help rid the country of harmful practices

like child sacrifices, witchcraft, violence and kidnaps among others which negatively

influence morals for Ugandans.

The Cabinet is also considering passing a Bill that would allow the information

ministry to appoint the chairperson of the country's media council. Freedom, an

independent watchdog that supports media freedom, said in its latest report that

"Uganda's government continues to use security agents to harass journalists who are

critical of the government.”

Access to Information Act, 2005

In accordance with Article 41 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the

Ugandan Parliament in 2005 elaborated on the constitutional guarantee of access to

information through the Access to Information Act (No 6 of 2005). This was passed in

2005 and received Presidential Assent on July 7, 2005. It came into force on April 20,

2006 and the President's office issued the Commencement Instrument on March 3,

2006 notifying the commencement to all government departments and agencies.

The Act is supposed to promote an efficient, effective, transparent and accountable

government, giving effect to Article 41 of the Constitution, protecting whistle blowers,

promoting transparency and accountability in all the organs of the State as well as

empowering the public to effectively scrutinize and participate in government

decisions that affect them. Further more, the Act is supposed to specify the

constitutional guarantee of access to information by determining the scope of citizen

rights and the obligations of information offices in all public bodies. It should

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prescribe the procedures for obtaining access to information and making complaints

against a refusal to release information.

Although the background of this Act is well set out, the same Act does not provide for

the right to access information, as stated. In my opinion, the Act does not compel

Government to guarantee access to information in its custody for instance, under this

Act, you ca not access Cabinet records or those of its committees. In fact, the Act is

unconstitutional because it purports to exclude certain categories of information. The

1995 Constitution sets limits on rights which are not absolute and therefore, the Act

cannot set limits beyond those set by the Constitution. The public can only be denied

access to these records if the State can show that their release is likely to prejudice ‘the

security or sovereignty of the state or likely to interfere with the right to privacy.’

The Act has no business trying to “achieve a reasonable balance between public

access, individual privacy and state confidentiality”. This is not its role. It is only

limited to operationalisation of Article 41 but not to set its own new limits, boundaries

and standards. The provision that allows the information officer to deny information

on account of likelihood to constitute breach of duty or contract is also

unconstitutional. In fact the purpose of Article 41 is to force the state to provide such

information. Otherwise, every contract government signs would simply include a

confidentiality clause.

The most appalling issue in the Act is the exception that denies access to information

relating to detention of persons, investigations, prosecutions and disclosure of

techniques etc. This is a blank cheque to governments to violate human rights with

impunity. This relates to detention of citizens in “safe houses” practices of torture etc

the very information Article 41 grants access to, in order to prevent abuse of power.

These exceptions can only hold, if it is shown and the onus is on the state, that the

disclosure will prejudice National security or State sovereignty.

The Act requires someone to write and pay a certain fee in order to access information.

This is unacceptable because the Act should be forcing the Government to freely

publicise its information to the public. Rather than a general call on civil servants to be

more transparent, the Act essentially represents a handling procedure for formal

requests. Overall, the Access to Information Act No. 6 of 2005 is badly equipped to

break up the culture of secrecy in government. It is therefore “a non starter” and its

effect is to limit and not provide access to information. It creates many limitations that

are beyond those prescribed under the 1995 Constitution and as such, most of its

provisions are null and void.

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The Anti Terrorism Act, 2002

This has elements that could link journalists to terrorism if they give coverage to

rebels. The Anti Terrorism Act 2002 (ATA) threatens to violate and negatively affect

the enjoyment and enforcement of human rights in Uganda. The Anti-Terrorism Act,

2002 is aimed at suppressing acts of terrorism, to provide for the punishment of

persons who plan, instigate, support, finance or execute acts of terrorism. The act also

aims at prescribing terrorist organizations and to provide for the punishment of

persons who are members of terrorist organizations.

S. 7(1) of the Act provides that Subject to the Act, any person who engages in or carries

out any act of terrorism commits an offence and shall, on conviction (a) be sentenced

to death if the offence directly results in the death of any person or (b) in any other

case, be liable to suffer death. The Act provides for mandatory death under S.7(1)(a)

where by use of the words “shall” means the court has no option but to sentence a

person to death, this can be compared with S. 7(1)(b) which uses the words “is liable to

suffer death”. The Uganda Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentence is

unconstitutional and violates a person’s right to life and fair trail. In this spirit S 7(1)

(a) of the Anti Terrorism Act 2002 is unconstitutional in as far as it provides for

mandatory death sentence.

S. 7(2) for example looks at a person who for purposes of “influencing the government

….” Influencing the government is not defined in the Act. The Act does not describe

the nature of influence on government the act or omission should target. For example

if an act was aimed at influencing positive policy change in government. Wouldn’t

such an act or omission amount to terrorism if there is a negative outcome? The

vagueness in explaining what influencing government is means the act can be used to

deny people a right to associate, freedom to participate in decision making, freedom to

join labour unions and even to strike.

Other issues of concern in the Act are provisions on what amounts to terrorism. For

example the Act punishes attempts as well as threats. Whereas criminal law

recognizes and punishes attempts to commit a crime, it is difficult to punish a threat to

commit a crime. Another important cannon of criminal law violated here is the

requirement for mensrea (the mental intention) and actus reus (the doing of a prohibited

act or omission). The two important elements go hand in hand. A person cannot be

punished for his thoughts but the thoughts must be For example let us considering a

labour union strike aimed at increasing salaries for health workers. Such a strike can

result into death of patients who did not get medical care. Would it then be right to

brand the striking workers as terrorists since what they did was aimed at influencing

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government and it resulted into death accompanied by acts or omissions that show

that the person actually intended or committed the crime.

The Act also punishes a person who intimidates the public or does an act or omission

aimed at intimidating the public. Intimidation of the public is not defined in the Act. It

is also not clear what amounts to intimidation and what the test of intimidation

should be. Basically intimidation is an individual perception and reaction to an event.

What amounts to intimidation may differ across different people basing on their

mental and physiological conditions. Failure to describe the test for intimidation

violates the cannons of criminal law i.e. a law must be written and explained. This

provision can be used to deny people their rights such as a right to fair trial and the

presumption of innocence.

Just like the phone tapping law, Part VII of the Act provides for interception of

communications. S. 19(1) gives the minister powers to authorize security officers to

intercept communications. Under the Act a security officer is a member of the Uganda

People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force (UPF) or a member of the

Internal Security Organization (ISO). The authorized officer can intercept

communication including letters and postal packages of any person; telephone calls,

faxes, emails and other communications made or issued by or received by or

addressed to a person specified in the order. The authorized officers also have powers

to monitor meetings of any group of persons, surveillance of the movements and

activities of persons specified in the order.

The provision relating to interception of communication violates article 27(2) of the

1995 constitution which gives a right to person privacy and specifically prohibits

interference of a person’s home or correspondence. The fact that powers for

interference with communication are given to the minister gives an opportunity to

government to target members of the opposition without a just reason. Such powers

are subject to abuse. The Act does not provide for mechanisms through which the

persons who are to be affected by the ministers order can be heard nor does it provide

for mechanisms to appeal against the minister’s order. This violates article 28 and 42

which provide for right to be heard. The right to be heard is a non derogable right

under Article 44 of the 1995 Constitution.

S. 19(5) in as much as provides for interception of communication violates article 29 of

the constitution which provides for freedom of speech and expression. Article 29(1) (a)

provides for freedom of speech, expression including press freedom. Freedom of

speech includes freedom to communicate in the different modes available to the

person. This would mean intercepting a person’s communication would directly

interfere with enjoyment of this right.

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3.6 Concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by the above laws

Reforms in the early 1990s did allow Uganda to develop a vibrant free media. There

are now over two dozen newspapers and dozens of radio and television stations that

are independently owned and operated, which frequently criticize the government.

The situation, however, is not entirely free. The government and President Museveni

have frequently threatened and intimidated the media, with desired effects. In 2002,

the Monitor, a prominent independent newspaper, was shut down temporarily

following coverage of the fight between the government and the LRA that the

government deemed inaccurate.

In 2005, a privately owned radio station, KFM, was temporarily closed for allowing

speculation on its broadcast about the plane crash of John Garang, the former

Sudanese vice president and ally of Museveni who had led the Sudan Liberation

People's Movement (SPLM). All media were warned not to broadcast or publish any

information on the crash that killed Garang. Museveni declared, "Any newspaper that

plays around with regional security, I will not tolerate it—I will close it." Thereafter,

radio presenter Andrew Mwenda was arrested for sedition in connection with

comments made on his KFM talk show.

During the Besigye case, media outlets were also intimidated and shut down over

journalists' coverage of the events. In addition to frequent arrests, there are physical

threats and attacks against journalists. Human rights and media watchdog advocates

have expressed concern that as a result of the intimidation, there is now a high degree

of self-censorship by Ugandan journalists, including a reduction in the level of public

debate on the radio.

Freedom of the press in Uganda hit a new low this year when the government, in

response to a decision by opposition figures to demonstrate against the escalating

price of food and fuel by walking to work, banned live coverage of the protests and

issued a directive to Internet providers to block two popular social websites for 24

hours. The ban on live coverage came after television stations showed horrific images

of the police force's high-handedness in arresting opposition politicians on the first

day of the demonstrations.

Footage of the police firing teargas canisters into homes, schools, and hospitals, was

also shown. Security forces prevented journalists reporting from the scene from

approaching some opposition figures who had been arrested, and several reporters

were roughed up. At least eight reporters were injured during the demonstrations: Ali

Mabule and Dismus Buregyeya of the daily New Vision, Francis Mukasa of WBS TV,

Ronald Muyinda of Radio One, Michael Kakumirizi and Stuart Iga of The Red Pepper,

Yunusu Ntale of CBS Radio FM, and Isa Aliga of Nation TV. As the police battled

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peaceful demonstrators, and the army intervened in what was one of the most brutal

crackdowns on peaceful protests the country has seen, the state-run Uganda

Communication Commission (UCC) blocked Facebook and Twitter for several hours.

Figure 2: A police officer manhandles a journalist during a Walk to Work protest

Photo by: Joseph Kiggundu of the Daily Monitor

Figure 3: Photojournalist Michael Kakumirizi is treated for a head wound sustained during the

Walk to Work protest

Photo by: Edward Echwalu

The UCC first denied knowledge of Facebook and Twitter being blocked. However, a

letter confirming UCC's directive was later leaked to the public. "We have received a

request from the security agencies that there is a need to minimize the use of media

that may escalate violence to the public in respect of the ongoing situation due to the

demonstration relating to 'walk to work,' mainly by opposition in the country," read

an April 14 letter signed by Quinto Ojok, acting executive director of the UCC. "As a

stakeholder that has communication infrastructures that host media such asFacebook

and Tweeter, the commission wishes to request for your indulgence in this matter,"

55

the letter went on. "You are therefore instructed to block the use of Facebook and

Tweeter for 24 hours as of now that is; 14th April, 2011 at 3.30 p.m. to eliminate the

connection and sharing of information that incites the public."

Facebook and Twitter were instrumental in relaying news of this year's February

general elections. Millions accessed updates regarding violence, vote counts,

winners/losers throughout the country, and reporters continue to use these social

websites. In Uganda, the news media has become a soft target for government when

the police and army mismanage a situation. In 2009, at the height of the Buganda riots,

the country's largest radio broadcaster, CBS, was shut down for more than a year for

what the government says was inciting violence. Three other radio stations were also

subsequently closed.

The media industry is not one that President Yoweri Museveni has warmed up to.

Museveni struggles to see any good in it, and he constantly blames the media for

frustrating his investors. In a Sunday press conference in his home village of

Rwakitura, west of Uganda's capital, Kampala, Museveni was quick to blame the

Walk to Work protests on the news media. "Why do you give updates on the

demonstrations that Besigye is now here, is doing this or that?" Museveni said,

referring to opposition leader Kizza Besigye. "If you are balanced, also give updates

that Museveni is meeting investors at his home, he's planting potatoes, now he has

moved to check on his cattle ...”

In Uganda however, the use of internet has become the main tool for freedom of

expression. "The most disturbing fact however is that many media companies -- either

in print, radio or television -- have resorted to less serious issues in their coverage, like

entertainment, sports, love stories or soap operas. Issues like accountability, human

rights and governance are slowly getting little coverage."

According to Freedom House's 2009 survey on media freedom, Uganda experienced a

dramatic decline in press freedom in the last five years, with its global ranking

dropping from 98 to 109. Election time in Uganda is usually a very dangerous time for

critical and independent journalists," said Njoroge, who is facing sedition charges. "I

have been involved in reporting and writing about human rights abuses, most

especially torture. Twice, I have been picked from our offices, my computer taken

away documents have been taken and never returned”

The International Press Institute has accused the Ugandan government of conducting

a “well-planned campaign to stifle the media” ahead of last year’s election. Wangethi

Mwangi, Kenyan board member of the global organisation, cited the Press and

Journalist Amendment Bill as proof of the president’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s

efforts to silence the East African country’s independent press.

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3.7 Religious and/or traditional laws that impact negatively on freedom of creative

expression in Uganda

Uganda is a predominantly Christian country with a significant (about 12%) Muslim

minority. The Northern and West Nile regions are dominated by Roman Catholics and

Iganga District in the east of the country has the highest percentage of Muslims.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Uganda Constitution but religions are

expected to be registered with the government and some religions considered cults are

restricted. The Catholic Church, the Church of Uganda, Orthodox Church, and the

Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) are registered under the Trustees

Incorporation Act and most other religious groups are registered yearly as Non-

Government Organizations under the NGO Act. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid al-

Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Christmas are recognized national holidays.

According to the National Census of October 2002, Christians of all denominations

made up 85.1% of Uganda's population. The Catholic Church has the largest number

of adherents (41.9% of the total population), followed by the Anglican Church of

Uganda, a part of the worldwide Anglican communion (37.6%). There are numerous

Pentecostal churches (4.6%), while 1.0% were grouped under the category of "Other

Christians”. It is also important to note that Jehovah's Witnesses have a presence in

Uganda and are working in a total of ten languages, including Swahili and Luganda.

Followers of William M. Branham and Branhamism claim numbers in the tens of

thousands, and this has been partly due to translation and distribution efforts by

Voice of God Recordings.

Mormonism has also grown slowly in Uganda. The first Ugandan to join the church

was Charles Osinde, who was baptized in Scotland and returned to his homeland. The

first small congregation was organized in Kampala, and by the beginning of 2010, the

church had 7,000 members. The LDS Church has assisted in humanitarian efforts in

Uganda for victims of fighting between political factions. The first LDS chapel was

built in Kololo, and the first stake was organized in January 2010. The church's

missionary efforts are based in Nakawa. Also, the New Apostolic Church and

Seventh-Day Adventists both have substantial followings. The Society of Friends has

two yearly meetings, Uganda Yearly Meeting, part of Friends United Meeting and

Evangelical Friends Church and about 3,000 members.

According to the National Census 2002, 12.1% of Ugandans adhere to Islam. Most

Muslims are Sunni. About 1% of Uganda's population follow traditional religions

only; however, more practice traditional religious practices along with other religions

such as Christianity or Islam. One survey in 2010 showed that, about 27% of Ugandans

believe that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm. Only 0.9% of

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Ugandans claim no religion. The Uganda Humanist Association (UHASSO) is a

member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union and has been registered

since 1996.

Only 0.7% of Uganda's population is classified as 'Other Non-Christians,' including

Hindus. The numbers were probably larger before the expulsion of most Ugandans of

Asian descent in 1972. Judaism is also practiced in Uganda by a small number of

native Ugandans known to most people as the Abayudaya. However, due to their

small population size, estimated as of 2009 at 1,100, many Ugandans are not aware of

this Jewish presence. Formerly numbering as many as 3,000 individuals, the

community drastically shrank in size to 300 when Idi Amin came to power and

outlawed Judaism, destroying all the synagogues in the country. Since then, the

community has grown in size and strength, constructing five synagogues in various

communities and establishing links to Jews worldwide. They operate several schools

which enroll Muslim, Jewish and Christian students. Besides the Abayudaya there are

an estimated 100 (un-organized) expatriate Jews of Israeli, South African and

American origin residing in Uganda, mainly in Kampala.

Also, it is vital to note that the Bahá'í Faith in Uganda started to grow in 1951 and in

four years time, there were 500 Bahá'ís in 80 localities, including 13 Bahá'í Local

Spiritual Assemblies, representing 30 tribes, and had dispatched 9 pioneers to other

African locations. Following the reign of Idi Amin when the Bahá'í Faith was banned

and the murder of Bahá'í Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga and his family, the

community continues to grow though estimates of the population range widely from

19,000 to 105,000 and the community's involvements have included diverse efforts to

promote the welfare of the Ugandan people. One of only seven Bahá'í Houses of

Worship, known as Mother Temple of Africa, is located on the outskirts of Kampala.

Figure 4: Bahá'í House of Worship, Kampala, Uganda

Source: www.ugandatourism.org

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3.8 Concrete examples of how artists have been, or are affected by the above

religious laws or beliefs in Uganda

Some artists in Uganda have been affected by religious beliefs and one among those

already affected is Joseph Mayanja. Joseph Mayanja (born 1979) known for his stage

name Jose Chameleon, Joe Chameleon, Jose Chameleone, or just Chameleone

(sometimes Chameleon) is a ragga musician who mainly sings in Luganda, English

and Swahili. Jose Chameleone has become a Pop Idol in East and Central Africa and

Several of his songs have turned into popular phrases such as Basiima Ogenze, Shida

Za Dunia, Nekolera Maali among others. He is generally credited with the

rejuvenation of Popular Local Music in Uganda at the turn of the Century.

Chameleone started his career in the early 1990s as Disco mc at Maganjo Mizuri night

club whilst studying at Progressive Secondary School along Rubaga Road in Mengo,

Kampala Uganda. He later affiliated to Ogopa DJs record label from Kenya. One of his

first songs was "Bageya", featuring Redsan, a Kenyan artist. He also collaborated with

fellow Ugandan Bebe Cool, but later the two are known to have a tense rivalry.

Chameleone’s musical style is a combination of Ugandan folk music, Central African

rumba, zouk and ragga. His first album was released in Kenya in 1999. He has since

released several albums including “Bageya” in 2000, “Mama Mia” in 2001, “Njo

Karibu” in 2002, “The Golden Voice” in 2003, “Mambo Bado”, in 2004 and “Kipepeo”

in 2005.

He is a member of the Musician’s Community, a coalition of musicians who use their

fame and fortune to help eradicate poverty and create awareness campaigns for

HIV/AIDS. He has toured number of overseas countries, the United States, United

Kingdom, Sweden and Belgium in 2010 among others. His younger brother, using the

stage name Weasel, is also a musician, part of the Goodlyfe Crew with Moses Radio.

Joseph Mayanja alias Jose Chameleon became a victim of religion when he tried to

convert into Islam and changing his name to Gaddafi Mayanja. Immediately after the

pronouncements, his family members including his wife who is of the catholic faith

threatened to reject him. Also, some Ugandans both locally and abroad received the

news with a lot of scepticism. One Peter Okurut Simon who is based in USA said: ‘I

don’t see why Chameleon’s Catholic priest turned father-in- law should get mad with

him. It is true, the father -in-law is/was a priest. If the father-in-law as a Catholic

priest can produce a daughter against the Catholic Church dogmas, why should he get

mad with Chameleon who is exercising his freedom of choice?

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Figure 5: Chameleon converts to Islam at Kibuli Mosque, in Kampala

Source: www.musicugandan.com

Chameleone said that, on Friday the 12th of August, 2010, he attended Juma prayers at

Kibuli mosque at his own will, he didn’t go to tour but he just wanted to have a

personal relationship with God, but to his surprise, his decision now makes him feel

like he had committed the biggest crime. Chameleone clarified that when news got to

his father that he had become a Muslim, Mr Mayanja (his father) told him that he

should not use his name Mayanja anymore and most of his family members like his

Aunt Oliver were so furious, they went with his mother and talked to him because no

one could understand his decision. Chameleone has got a lot of pressure on him in the

past few days from the press and his family!

At first, Chameleone didn’t want to react but then his own wife Daniela and kids

abandoned him at a request of his in laws. It was after this that Chameleone, felt like

his life is meaningless, the fact that he works hard every day for his wife, kids and

family. Six days after news broke that Jose Chameleone had converted to Islam, the

self proclaimed music heavy weight Dr Jose Chameleone clarified that he has decided

to obey his parents, his inlaws and his entire family and go back to the religion his

parents raised him in. Chameleone noted that the past six days were the hardest of his

life. He explained that, his name is Joseph Mayanja, he has lived with Muslims before,

and he attended an Islamic school, Kawempe Muslim School where he composed the

school anthem. “I always want to keep a good relationship with my family” Affirmed

Chameleone.

Given the much pressure, and for the good of his family, Chameleone said that “even

the Koran and the Bible state that, Janah is for those that respect their parents, so

there’s no way I am going to live a good life when I am not in harmony with my

people especially those people who gave me chance to live”.

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3.9 Ways in which artists are censored or have their freedoms adversely been

affected that are not legally or culturally based e.g. political or other forms of

intimidation

Artists in Uganda have also been adversely affected by other forms of intimidation

other than those legally or culturally based. One among those forms is political

intimidation. For instance, when Ronald composed his song “Turikubunkenke

Twena” meaning we are all badly off, the political leadership threatened to arrest him.

All media houses were politically intimidated not to play the same song in their

studios. Another song titled “Emboko” by Master Teacher was also banned in the

country.

Another form of intimidation is quarrels and fights among the artists especially those

in the music arena. Many Ugandan local artists have been involved in fights for

example Bebe Cool, a ragga Ugandan musician born on September 1, 1977 and the son

of the veteran politician Jeberi Bidandi Ssali has been fighting with Chameleon. For

instance, before the dust could settle over the Chameleon Islam saga, Chameleone

went to Club Rouge and straight on started beating Bebe Cool. In his words, Bebe

Cool said; "I cannot believe Jose Chameleon entered Rouge & started fighting me his

maker after all I have done for this chap now I accept a lost chap is a lost chap, I will

never protect Chameleon again am not surprised he's fighting me because he needs

the front page more than anybody. My advice to you Chameleon is, sing music

because for me I have got a lot in stock and watch your skin."

The cause of these fights is not clear. Some rumours say that most artists are fighting

because of women while others believe that it is due to competition for money and

popularity. Other sources seem to have it that this fight, stems from Bobi Wine's

wedding, another popular local artist. Bebe Cool's camp was trying to persuade

Chameleon’s Leone Island Crew not to attend Bobi Wine's forthcoming wedding and

that is how one thing led to the other. One supporter for Bebe Cool wondered

“something should be terribly wrong with Jose Chameleone and he will stop at

nothing to make news. He has been in the news for having converted to Islam only to

make a U turn 36 hours later”.

Another serious challenge facing artists in Uganda is death threats for example in

January 2010, Bebe Cool whose real name is Moses Ssali, the son of the veteran

politician Jaberi Bidandi Ssali was injured when a policeman shot at him. Although

the government intervened and covered his medical expenses, it was and indeed is

still a challenge to him. Another event is when Jose Chameleon failed to turn up on

both concerts as he had to perform at a concert in Amsterdam, Holland where it is

rumoured that the Vumilia star was nearly shot to death by assassins but instead, the

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bullets hit the speakers. Remember Chameleone is the artiste who has had a lot of

hard times in his music carrier. For example, he broke his legs while in Tanzania

where he had gone to perform on a show in Arusha last year. Juliana and the Good

lyfe crew also turned down Bobi when they failed to perform at his concert.

One other serious threat to artists in Uganda is HIV/AIDS. At the end of 2005, it was

estimated that approximately 7 percent of the adult population was infected with HIV,

which was half of the average during the 1990s of approximately 15 percent. Yet,

according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the average life span

was only 48 years in 2004. Uganda's initial period after independence in 1962 was

marked by dictatorial rule.

Polly Michael (2005) in the article “Roksi and the creation of The Soviet Rock

Musician” asserts that local rock musicians were ignored by the media. With the

access to official channels of recording and distribution, local amateur rock groups

were overwhelmingly centered on giving concerts. In lieu to the above, the researcher

observed that some Ugandan amateur artistes are ignored by the media despite

producing good and pleasing music.

David Bainbridge and Tom Bell (2001) in their article “Computer and The

Humanities” consider the analysis of the graphical properties of music notation that

make the processing printed music challenging. This involves musical features, the

complex two-dimensional spatial relationships that exist between them; the

superimposing of staff lines with many important musical objects, and the fact that

music is sometimes typeset in an ambiguous manner. Despite the ability of Ugandan

amateur artistes to compose music, the researcher observed this as a challenge to

amateur artistes to compose music in the Ugandan music industry.

3.10 Ways in which accessing public funds or other perks are used to intimidate or

censor artists

Money is one of most spellbinding and captivating forces that African people must be

liberated from in order to advance and this falls under the umbrella of technology

(applied knowledge). Like any other Ugandans, artists in Uganda were colonized

mentally, financially, physically, spiritually and intellectually. They always look up to

the Europeans for knowledge, money and advice.

Today, Uganda has a vibrant music industry that plays a fundamental role in the

social and economic lives of many. Musicians are the main celebrities in Uganda and

all entertainment content from the mainstream media will most times be about music

or musicians. The private lives of musicians are closely followed by many Ugandans.

Music concerts, most times called "album launches", are very popular. Many

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companies spend huge amounts of money on sponsoring these music concerts and

advertisements for the concerts are very common on radio and television. The

emphasis on music concerts comes from the fact that very few music artists make a

worthwhile income from sales of their music on physical media.

The lack of any distribution structure means that there is little or no incentive for

capital investment in artist development or music sales. There are no genuine record

labels, with most of the companies that are refereed to as labels being merely artist

management companies. Because of these inadequacies, there is a severe strain placed

upon musicians to find profitability and sustainability in making music. However, this

somehow does not seem to deter new musicians from developing, as there is a very

healthy production rate of young and talented musicians.

There have also been efforts at organizing the music industry, with the Uganda

Publishing Rights Society (UPRS) and Uganda Musicians Association being prime

examples alongside a number of music awards organizations like PAM Awards.

Attempts by some of these organizations to make use of an under-utilized and largely

ignored copyright law to generate revenue from music distribution have proved

fruitless. These are some of the challenges facing the music industry in the country

and indeed are very similar to the ones facing most music industries around the

world.

As a case point, back in the 1990s, the late Kadongo Kamu singer Herman Basudde

received a large sum of money from one of the few music distributors in Uganda at

the time, for his lutambi (album). It was so much money, that he bought himself a

sprightly Toyota Land Cruiser. This was strange and most unfair to the real owner of a

song, the singer/songwriter. Singers/artists compose music, take it to the studio, and

when the project (six to ten songs) is complete, seek out a "sponsor" or "promoter" who

then "relieves" the artist of his "burden", with a one-off payment, while the promoter

keeps the treasure till eternity.

This one-off payment varies from artist to artist, and from distributor to distributor,

depending on the artist's popularity/selling power and to some extent, the

distributor's resources, and ability to recoup his investment. Under this scenario,

artists having sold out their rights are left with no other way to continue earning from

their intellectual property, other than live performances. They will "launch" their CD

at a grand concert at some posh hotel and do the city and countrywide circuit, with

performances big and small, at various venues, five to six days of the week. This

approach has its limits. As a human being, you get worn out; get very predictable and

less efficient on stage. The temptation to resort to performance-enhancing substances,

too, increases drastically. Many of course, have and continue to succumb. On the fans'

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side, concert fatigue steps in, as their money is not limitless --- they have other

priorities in their lives.

It is vital to note that Bebe Cool aka Omunene (BIG IS BIG) has had some fights with

the Ghetto President aka Bobi wine. The most common fight between these fellows is

the habit of launching their albums on the same day/night. For example, on the 2nd

October, 2009, Bebe cool was launching his Agenze album with songs like Nasalawo,

sweet loving, Bamugambe, Bogola ko, cartoon & Baboon (dissing Radio & Weasel),

Lwaki seyagala, chemical reaction a duet with necessary noise, Agenze among others

at the Lugogo rugby grounds. At the same time, Bobi wine was launching his Carolyn

namusanga Ndeeba album which has songs like Ekilooto, Ayagala mulaasi, Promise,

Wesotinge (insulting Bebe cool) among others at Hotel Africana. Both concerts were a

dedication to the late Ronnie Saava Ssempangi aka DJ Ronnie a former Capital FM

presenter and his portraits were sold on both concerts. Although all the concerts

became a success, this is a challenge that needs to be solved.

3.11 Contact details of human rights organisations active in Uganda including

international, regional, national and local organisations

Although Uganda has tried in promoting human rights including the establishment of

the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) whose mandate is to protect and

promote human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and other binding human

rights instruments, guided by the requirements of our legislative mandate, by

international and regional human rights standards and working through partnerships,

several human rights violations still exist in the country. These have been observed in

places of detention and especially during the public demonstrations including the

recent walk to work demonstrations in Kampala. Besides, many Ugandans still do not

know their fundamental human rights which are inherent.

There are human rights violations in respect to Hunger and the Right to Food, Access

to Justice for the Vulnerable and the Poor, Electoral Democracy and Human Rights,

The Right to Health as a Basic Human Right, The Right to Work and the Rights of

Workers, Disasters, National Preparedness and Related Human Rights, and The

Human Rights Situation of Persons with Disabilities among others. Of present interest

is Uganda’s position on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill which seems to have attracted

international concern. There is public outrage over the government's heavy-

handedness in the observance of human rights especially by security forces. Besides,

Uganda has not performed well in respect to Uganda’s Compliance with Key

International and Regional Treaty and Convention Obligations on Human Rights.

Uganda continues to experience difficulty in advancing respect for human rights in

matters concerning torture, child labour, and liberties. There are as many as thirteen

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'security' organizations of the Museveni government, some directly answerable to the

President and not constitutionally based and established by Act of Parliament. These

organizations persecute opponents of the government, carry out abductions,

disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture and act both independently,

interdependently with each other, and in cooperation with the Ugandan Police. These

organizations also harass the free media and official parliamentary opposition.

The conflict in the north of the country between the Uganda People's Defence Force

(UPDF) and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) decimated the economy, retarded the

development of affected areas and led to numerous gross human rights violations for

over 20 years. Since Yoweri Museveni became president in 1986, about 2 million

Ugandans were displaced and tens of thousands killed in Northern Uganda. An

estimated 20,000 children were kidnapped by the LRA for use as child soldiers and

slaves since 1987. To avoid abduction, thousands of children left their villages every

night to hide in forests, hospitals, and churches. In the bloodiest incident in the history

of the conflict, more than 330 civilians were killed by the LRA in Barlonyo internally

displaced person's camp in February 2004.

Government agencies accused of torture include the UPDF's Chieftaincy of Military

Intelligence (CMI), the Internal Security Organization (ISO), the Violent Crime Crack

Unit (VCCU) and ad hoc agencies such as the Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JATF.)

In October the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), which only receives

complaints for a small fraction of actual human rights violations, found that torture

continued to be a widespread practice amongst security organizations in Uganda.

Below is a list and contact details of some organizations which are active on human

rights issues in Uganda.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC)

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) was established by Article 51 of the

Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. The Constituent Assembly taking into

account the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into violations of human rights from

1962-1986 and the Recommendations of the Uganda Constitutional Commission

embodied the Human Rights Commission into the Constitution. UHRC is therefore

one of the principal institutions for upholding, protecting and promoting

Contacts

Plot 20/22/24 Buganda Road, Opposite

African Crafts Village

P.O .Box 4929, Kampala

Tel: +256 (0) 414-348007/8, +256 (0) 414 - 233757

65

Fax: +256 (0) 414 - 255261

E-mail: uhrc@uhrc.ug

Website: www.uhrc.ug

Inspectorate of Government (IGG)

The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) was established in 1986 as a unit within the

office of the President and was called the Inspector General of Government. It was

established by the Inspector General of Government Statute No. 2 of 1988 to inquire

into allegations of violations of human rights committed by persons in public offices,

inquire into activities of law enforcement and security agencies in keeping and

upholding the rule of law and detect and prevent corruption in public offices

With the promulgation of the Uganda Constitution in 1995, the Inspectorate of

Government is now entrenched therein under chapter 13, which prescribes its

mandate, functions and powers and other relevant matters. Its mandate is to

eliminate corruption, promote and foster the rule of law and principles of natural

justice in public offices and enforce the Leadership Code of Conduct and its mission is

to promote good governance through enhancing accountability and transparency; and

enforcement of the rule of law and administrative justice in public offices

Contacts

Jubilee Insurance Centre, Plot 14, Parliament Avenue,

P.O. Box 1682,

Kampala

Tel: +256 (0) 414 344 219 (general Line

Tel: +256 (0) 414 347 876 (Hot Line)

Fax: +256 (0) 414 344 810

Email: pr@igg.go.ug

Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC)

The Uganda Law Reform Commission was established by the Uganda Law reform

Commission Statute No. 7 of 1990. The Uganda Law Reform Commission is a

constitutional body established under Article 248(1) of the Constitution of the

Republic of Uganda to study and keep under constant review the Acts and all other

laws comprising the laws of Uganda with a view to making recommendations for

their systematic improvement, development, modernization and reform.

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Contacts

Plot 1 Pilkington Road,

Workers House, 8th Floor,

P.O Box 12149,

Kampala Uganda,

Tel:+256 (0) 414 342 600, +256 (0) 414 341 138

Fax: +256 (0) 414 254 869

Email: ulrc@ulrc.go.ug, lawcom@infocom.co.ug

Uganda Legal Information Institute (ULII)

The Uganda Legal Information Institute is an internet facility that provides the public

with legal information relating to Uganda, with a view of promoting and supporting

the rule of law. ULII publishes public legal information- that is decisions of courts,

legislation and some publicly available secondary legal materials created by public

bodies for purposes of public access, for example the Justice Law and Order

Sector(JLOS) and the Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC).

Contacts

PO Box 7085 Kampala

Tel: +256(0)414286823

National Council for Children (NCC)

This was established by the Act of Parliament of 1996 Ch.60. Its mandate is to provide

a structure and mechanism which will ensure proper coordination, monitoring and

evaluation of all policies and programmes relating to the survival, protection and

development of the child and for other connected matters.

Contacts

Plot 249, Mwanga 11 Road, Mengo

P.O Box 21456 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 232 311

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters,

members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end

grave abuses of human rights. Its vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights

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enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international

human rights standards.

Contacts

20A Kawalya Kaggwa Close Kololo

P.O Box 23966, Kampala Kampala

Tel: +256 (0) 312 350 100, +256 (0) 414 252 900

Transparency International (TR-U)

This was registered in 1996 as an NGO affiliated to Transparency International Berlin

Germany

Contacts

C/O UCPA, Agip House, First Floor,

Plot 9 Kampala, Road,

P.O Box 23783 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 414 234 002, +256 772 502 441

Fax: +256 414 234 003

Email: ucpa@monitor.co.ug

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

This is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending

and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights

are violated, the organization gives voice to the oppressed and holds oppressors

accountable for their crimes. For more than 30 years, Human Rights Watch has

worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change

and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.

Contacts

350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor

New York, NY 10118-3299 USA

Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700

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ISIS Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange

Isis-Women’s International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) exists to promote

justice and empowerment of women globally through documenting violations of

women’s rights and facilitating the exchange of information and skills to strengthen

women’s capacities, potential and visibility. Isis-WICCE utilizes different creative

strategies to generate and share information and knowledge to enable women to

enhance their leadership potential and participate in decision making skills.

Isis-WICCE received its name from the Egyptian goddess of Isis who symbolises

Wisdom, Creativity and Knowledge. Isis-WICCE relocated to Kampala, Uganda at the

end of 1993 with an objective of tapping African women's ideas, views and problems

and shares the information with women at the international level. Since the move to

Kampala, Isis-WICCE started National-and regional level programmes to facilitate the

flow of information from Uganda to other parts of Africa and the rest of the world,

and to contribute towards the strengthening of the Uganda and African women's

movement.

Contacts

Plot 22 Bukoto Street, Kamwokya

P. O. BOX 4934, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 543 953

Fax: +256 (0) 414 543 954

Website: www.isis.or.ug

Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS)

The Mission of the Uganda Red Cross Society is to be a leading humanitarian agency

in Uganda in saving lives, supporting livelihoods and promoting human dignity.

Contacts

Plot 97 Buganda Road

Block 8, Plot 551/555 Lumumba Avenue

P.O. Box 494 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: 041-4348437, 041-4234968

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World Food Programme (WFP)

The primary objective of WFP Uganda Country Office Logistics is to plan and execute

pipeline and planning, transportation, customs clearing and storage and until recently

the Inter-Agency Logistics Services (ILS) for food and non-food commodities

incorporated in the country office work plan.

Contacts

37 – 43 Kampala Road Bank of Uganda

1st Floor 7120, Kampala

Tel: +256 (0) 414 244 010,

Fax: +256 (0) 414 231 112

United Nations office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR)

OHCHR’s Uganda country office was established in July 2005 and a Memorandum of

Understanding was signed with the Government of Uganda in January 2006. The

mandate initially focused on the human rights situation in the conflict-affected areas

of northern and north-eastern Uganda (Karamoja). The office’s mandate was renewed

in October 2009 for two years and broadened to cover the whole country. OHCHR has

six sub-regional offices in Gulu, Kitgum (Acholiland), Lira (Lango), Soroti (Teso),

Moroto and Kotido (Karamoja), in addition to its head office in Kampala.

Contacts

Plot 12 Baskerville Avenue Kilolo

P.O Box 7184, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 236 272, +256 (0) 414 257 992

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is an independent, non-partisan,

international non-governmental organisation, mandated to ensure the practical

realisation of human rights in the countries of the Commonwealth. In 1987, several

Commonwealth associations founded CHRI because they felt that while the member

countries had both a common set of values and legal principles from which to work

and a forum within which to promote human rights, there was relatively little focus

on human rights issues.

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CHRI's objectives are to promote awareness of and adherence to the Harare

Commonwealth Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other

internationally recognised human rights instruments, as well as domestic instruments

supporting human rights in Commonwealth member states.

CHRI London Office

Institute of Commonwealth Studies

School of Advanced Study, University of London

2nd Floor, South Block, Senate House,

Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU

Tel: +44(0) 207 862 8857

Fax: +44(0)207 862 8820

E-mail: chri@sas.ac.uk

International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent tribunal to prosecute

individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of

aggression (although it cannot currently and will in no way before 2017 be able to

exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression).

Contacts

Plot 1 Colvile Street,

P.O Box 72735, Kampala, Uganda

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on

December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated

to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee

problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of

refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and

find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate

locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.

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Contacts

Plot 4B Babiha Avenue Former Acacia Avenue) Kololo

P.O Box 3813, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 41-4230011, +256 (0) 41-4255182, +256 (0) 41-4231231

Facsimile +256 51 4256989

Email ugaka@unhcr.org

International Organisation of Migration (IOM)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is the leading

international intergovernmental organization dealing with migration. Its objective is

to ensure the orderly migration of persons in need of migration assistance throughout

the world. IOM Uganda has been registered and operational since 1988, when the field

mission was established. Throughout the past 20 years, IOM Uganda has processed

movements and facilitated information gathering and support towards refugees,

internally displaced persons, demobilized child soldiers, trafficked women and other

migrants and their specific needs, both on individual and large scale population

movement.

Contacts

Plot 40 Makenzie Vale, Off Lugogo By Pass, Kololo

P.O Box 11431, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 236 622, +256 (0) 312 261 179, +256 (0) 312 263 210

E-mail: iomkampala@iom.int

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger | ACF International is a global humanitarian organization

committed to ending world hunger. Action Against Hunger’s therapeutic nutrition

programs—and capacity-building support for Uganda’s health system—provided

lifesaving treatment for 35,000 severely malnourished children in 2011.

Contacts

P.O Box 3177 Kampala

Tel: +256 (0)31-2262973, +256 (0) 41-4510438

72

Email: adra@imul.com

Health Rights Action Group (HAG)

Health Rights Action Group (HAG) was formed in Kampala, Uganda in 2001 to

advocate for the rights of women living with HIV/AIDS within a human rights

framework. The leadership includes women living with HIV committed to

empowering others to defend their human rights, including IDP women and

adolescent girls. HAG provides psycho-social counselling, conducts HIV/AIDS

prevention education, and provides legal advice. It holds community forums to

address women’s rights issues and also conducts paralegal training to human rights

monitors who act to protect women’s reproductive and health rights in their

communities. Furthermore, HAG advocates for effective health policies for women

and children, including government provision of universal access to anti-retroviral

treatments.

Contacts

Plot 96 Bukoto Street Kamwokya

P.O Box 40081, Kampala Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 531 478

Email: wtag@infocom.co.ug

The Human Rights Centre Uganda

The Human Rights Centre Uganda (Centre) is a non-profit organization established in

November 2008 with the sole aim of contributing to the protection and promotion of

the rights of human rights defenders in Uganda. Having scanned the environment for

the work of human rights actors in Uganda, the Centre is of the view that there is need

in Uganda to give emphasis to the promotion and protection of the rights of human

rights defenders. Accordingly the Centre will give special emphasis to promoting and

protecting the rights of human rights defenders in Uganda.

Contacts

Plot 65 Luthuli Avenue, Bugolobi

P.O Box 25638 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 266 186

Email: info@hrcug.org

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Website: www.hrcug.org

Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP)

The Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) is a local civil society

organization committed to preventing violence against women. CEDOVIP has worked

at the grassroots level in poor communities since 2000 and is seen by many as one of

the leading local non-governmental organizations working on violence prevention in

Uganda today. CEDOVIP works in close partnership with Raising Voices.

Contacts

Plot 16 Tufnell Drive Kamwokya,

P.O Box 6770, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 531 249, +256 (0) 414 531 186

Fax: +256 414 531 249

Email: info@raisingvoices.org

Transparency International Uganda Chapter

Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight

against corruption, brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end

the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world.

TI’s mission is to create change towards a world free of corruption.

Contacts

Plot 5 Dewinton Road,

P.O Box 24335, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 255 836

E-mail(s): tiuganda@gmail.com

Website: http://tiuganda.org

African Centre for Treatment Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV)

ACTV is a unique African organisation that was created in June 1993 in Kampala,

Uganda by African professionals drawn from different walks of life under the

guidance of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT). ACTV

is registered as a non-political non-governmental organisation. The organisation is

dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights with emphasis on the

74

treatment and rehabilitation of victims of torture by security agencies and armed

groups.

Contacts

P.O Box 1483, Kampala, Kampala

Tel: +256 (0) 414 567 183, +256 (0) 414 542 489

Email: actv@actvuganda.org

Tel: +256 (0) 414 531 249

Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN)

Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN) is a coalition of child-focused

organizations comprising of community based, national and international non-

governmental organizations advocating for the rights of children in Uganda. Its

mission is to undertake collective action for promotion and protection of children’s

rights in Uganda”

Contacts

Togore Crescent, Plot 18, Kamwokya

P.O Box 10293, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 543 548, +256 (0) 414 532 131

Fax: +256 (0) 414 543 548

Email: ucrnn@utlonline.co.ug, info@ucrnn.net

Website: www.ucrnn.net, www.ucrnn.org

Human Rights Network Uganda (HURINET- U)

HURINET (U) was established in December 1993 and formally registered as an

independent, non-partisan and not for profit organization in 1994. The identity of

HURINET-U lies with its diverse membership of 32 NGOs. Membership is drawn

from organizations that are committed to a wide range of human rights issues which

are complementary in terms of areas of focus including; civil and political rights,

economic social and political rights, child rights, gender and women’s issues, peace

building and conflict resolution, prisoners’ rights, refugee rights and lab our rights. Its

mission is to foster the promotion, protection and respect of human rights in Uganda

through linking and strengthening the capacity of member organizations at national,

regional and international levels.

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Contacts

Plot 94 Old Kiira road, Ntinda (Near Ministers’ Village)

P.O. Box 21265, Kampala-Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 286 923, +256 (0) 414 285 362

Fax: +256 (0) 414 286 881

Email: info@hurinet.or.ug

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)

FHRI is an independent, non-governmental, non-partisan and not-for-profit human

rights organization established in December 1991. It seeks to remove impediments to

democratic development and meaningful enjoyment of the fundamental freedoms

enshrined in the 1995 Uganda Constitution and other internationally recognized

human rights instruments.

Contacts

Human Rights House

Plot 1853, Lulume Road Nsambya

P.O Box 11027, Kampala

Tel: +256 (0) 414 510 263, +256 (0) 414 510 498,

Mobile: +256 (0) 752 791 963

Fax: +256 (0) 414 510 498

E-mail: fhri@spacenet.co.ug, fhri@starcom.co.ug

Website: www.fhri.or.ug

Human Rights Concern (HURICO)

HURICO is indigenous human rights NGO committed to promoting human right

awareness by educating Ugandans about their rights and obligations. It was founded

in 1995

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Contacts

Plot 50-60 Ambassador House, Kampala Road

P.O Box 22562 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 255 489

Email: hurico@swiftuganda.com

Human Rights Focus (HURIFO)

Human Rights Focus (HURIFO) is a Ugandan civil societal, non-governmental, non-

partisan, non stock, non racial, non-religious and non-profit making human rights

organisation established in 1994 with a country-wide mandate.

Contacts

Plot 5/7 Airfield Road,

P. O. Box 970, Gulu, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 471 432 259, +256 (0) 471 43259

Fax: +256 (0) 471 432 402

Email: hurifo@hurifo.org

Webpage: www.hurifo.org

Centre for Conflict Resolution (CECORE)

The Centre for Conflict Resolution (CECORE) is a not-for-profit NGO founded in 1995

by a number of Ugandans aspiring to promote alternative and creative means of

preventing, managing, and resolving conflict. Above all, CECORE seeks to empower

individual women and men, communities, and organizations to transform conflict and

to establish a culture of active tolerance and peace. CECORE’s area of focus is Uganda,

the Great Lakes Region, and the Greater Horn of Africa, though its services and

involvement have been requested and provided beyond these areas.

Contacts

P.O Box 5211 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 312 262 265, +256 (0) 414 255 033

Cell: +256 (0) 772 551 633, +256 (0) 772 462 319

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Fax: + 256 (0) 414 255 033, +256 (0) 414 251 922

Email: cecore@africaonline.co.ug

Website: http://www.cecore.net

Hope After Rape (HAR)

Hope After Rape (HAR) is a voluntary women's Non-governmental Organisation

based in Uganda. Hope After Rape was formed in 1994 as a result of concern about the

increasing number of sexual abuse of children and women as well as other forms of

violence. At that time there were no psychosocial support services for the survivors of

such abuses. Its mission is to facilitate the recovery of abused children, women and

families through advocacy, research, training and provision of psychosocial support

services.

Contacts

Plot Number 1C Kiira Road, Kampala Uganda.

P.O Box 7621 Kampala, Uganda - East Africa

Tel: +256- (0) 414 251 201, +256 (0) 414 233 669

Fax: +256 (0) 414 234 799

Email: har@uol.co.ug

African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and

Neglect (ANPPCAN)

The African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and

Neglect (ANPPCAN) is a pan African network that promotes child rights and child

protection in Africa. Its mission is to enhance, in partnership with others, the

prevention and protection of children from all forms of maltreatment, thus, ensuring

that the rights of children are realized. ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter is registered

under the NGO Registration Statute, NO.S.5914/ 1419 and with the Registrar of

Companies as company limited by guarantee and body corporate.

Contacts

Plot 1 Kira Road,

P. O. Box 24640 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 254 550, +256 (0) 392 754550/552

78

Fax: +256 (0) 414 344 648

Email: anppcan@anppcanug.org, dyiga@anppcanug.org

Website: www.anppcanug.org

The African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV)

ACTV is the only NGO organisation in Uganda dedicated to the provision of quality

medical treatment and rehabilitation services to victims of torture. The mandate and

mission of ACTV is to provide quality treatment and rehabilitation services to victims

of torture as well as to advocate against torture. Since 1993 when ACTV was founded,

hundreds of torture victims in Uganda as well as refugees from neighbouring

countries in the Great Lakes region have been provided with holistic treatment and

rehabilitation services.

Contacts

Tel: +256 (0) 312 263 918

Email: actv@actvuganda.org

Website: www.actvuganda.org

Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA)

The Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA) is a health

rights advocacy organization in Uganda dedicated to raising awareness of the human

rights aspects of health, and improving the quality of health and healthcare for all

Ugandans. Grounded in a rights-based approach, AGHA mobilizes health

professionals, in collaboration with communities, to be health rights advocates

promoting equity and social justice for all Ugandans, with a particular focus on

marginalized and vulnerable populations. AGHA has a proven track record of

addressing health rights violations in Uganda through advocacy-oriented research,

education and training.

Founded in 2003 by a group of concerned Ugandan health professionals, AGHA has

mobilized hundreds of members, fostered coalitions and local and national networks,

conducted numerous health, human rights and advocacy trainings, and brought

human rights awareness to key health and policymaking bodies

Contacts

Plot 13 Factory Road & Hancock Road, Ntinda

P.0.Box 24667, Kampala, Uganda

79

Email: info@aghauganda.org

Tel: +256 (0) 414 348 491

Website: www.aghauganda.

HEPS-Uganda

HEPS-Uganda is an acronym for Coalition for Health Promotion and Social

Development. It is a health rights organisation that advocates for increased access to

affordable essential medicines for the poor and vulnerable people in Uganda. Its

mission is to work towards increased access to affordable, quality essential medicines

by all Ugandans, especially the poor and vulnerable in rural and urban areas.

Contacts

Plot 351A Balintuma Road, Namirembe Hill

P.O Box 2426 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256-(0) 414 270 970

Fax: +256-(0) 414 575 896

Email: info@heps.or.ug

Website: http://www.heps.or.ug

The Refuge Law Project (RLP)

The Refugee Law Project (RLP) seeks to ensure fundamental human rights for all

asylum seekers, refugees, and internally displaced persons within Uganda. We

envision a country that treats all people within its borders with the same standards of

respect and social justice. We work to see that all people living in Uganda, as specified

under national and international law, are treated with the fairness and consideration

due fellow human beings.

Contacts

Plot 9 Perryman Gardens, Old Kampala

Opposite Old Kampala Primary School

P.O. Box 33903 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0)414 343 556

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Email: info@refugeelawproject.org

Huys Link Community Initiative (HUYSLINCI)

HUYSLINCI, the organization, traces its roots to Reverend Father Wijnand Huijs

(Huys). Reverend Father Wijnand Huijs, a Dutch Mill Father, was ordained a priest in

the Mill Hill Society in 1968. He came to Uganda for his pastoral work and then

worked in different Catholic parishes such as Jinja, Budini, Kakira, Kamuli, and Mbiko

(Eastern Uganda). He was touched by the influx of distressed children from all corners

of Uganda and even beyond. In the 1970s many refugees from both Rwanda and

Burundi were homeless and searched for work and shelter in various parts of Uganda.

Uganda then was going through difficult times especially due to the poor economy,

political instability, and tribal conflicts. During the 1980s and 1990s, HIV AIDS

resulted in deaths of parents and many orphans and youth were left in dire need.

Father Huijs committed himself to take care of vulnerable children and youth in

difficult circumstances. He provided them the basic necessities such as food, clothing,

health care, education, and shelter. The majority of the children were between 10-15

years old. Over the years, Father Huijs kept and assisted more than 250 children in the

Parishes where he worked. The mission of HUYSLINCI since then up to now is to

contribute to Protection, Survival and Development of the vulnerable children and

youth in difficult circumstances.

Contacts

P.O Box 399 Entebbe, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 378 198

Email: info@huyslinci.org or huyslinci@yahoo.co.uk

Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC)

UJCC is an Ecumenical Organisation whose membership at present is: the Roman

Catholic Church, the Uganda Orthodox Church and the Church of Uganda. As a

fellowship of Churches, UJCC provides a platform for its members to work towards

greater mutual understanding and unity of purpose. UJCC provides a forum to

articulate and address issues of common concern including peace building, health,

and education, social and economic justice. The council was formally established in

1963 just a year after Uganda had gained political autonomy from the British.

Paradoxically, this was a period characterized by bitterness, rivalry and hostility

among Christians. Its mission is to promote consensus among men, women, children

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and youth in member churches to uphold Christian values and address issues of

economic, social justice through representatives at various levels.

Contacts

Plot 5 Berkeley Street, Off Namirembe Road

P.O Box 30154, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256414254219, +256414344250

E-Mail: ujcc@utlonline.co.ug

Website: www.ujcc.org

National Association for Women Organisation in Uganda (NAWOU)

NAWOU is an indigenous umbrella for women organizations formed in 1992 and

registered as an NGO with the NGO Board of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

NAWOU is an affiliate of International Council of Women, has a consultative status

with United Nations Economic and social council (ECOSOC) and collaborates with

several networks, international NGOs and development partners. NAWOU was

formed to harness efforts of various women organizations efforts that had hitherto

been fragmented. NAWOU's mandate is to build a strong movement among women

organizations in Uganda

Contacts

Plot 1 Perryman Gardens Bakuli, off Hoima Road

P.O Box 1663 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 258 463

Fax: +256 (0) 414 345 293

Email: nawou@nawouganda.org

Website: www.nawouganda.org

Public Defenders Association (PDAU)

PDAU is a non-profit Human Rights organization that offers criminal legal aid to the

poor. It was conceived in 1997 in the context of the Justice Law and Order Sector

(JLOS) Reforms as one of the new models for improved administration of justice in

Uganda. It complements the Criminal Justice Reform Program which is one of the

JLOS’ initial key priority areas for reform. PDAU offers legal aid to indigent persons to

82

putting particular emphasis to those charged with criminal offences. The organization

works with courts, prisons, police, and other legal aid service organizations/providers

Contacts

Plot 117, Muteesa 2 Road, Ntinda, Kampala

P.O Box 27352, Kampala - Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 414 286 487, +256 (0) 772933354

Fax: +256 414540770

Email: pdefender@yahoo.com, info@pdefender.org

Website: http://www.pdefender.org

Uganda Discharged Prisoners Aid Society (UDPAS)

Uganda Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society (UDPAS) is a voluntary charitable Non-

Governmental Organization (Reg. No.5914/647) for social rehabilitation, reintegration

and resettlement of prisoners and ex-prisoners back in to their local communities as

law abiding citizens of the country.

In 1957 the Luzira Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Committee was formed under the

auspices of Uganda Prisons Service (later to become the Uganda Discharged Prisoners’

Aid Committee in 1960 there after referred to as Uganda Discharged Prisoners Aid

Society (UDPAS) to assist discharged prisoners get an acceptable resettlement in their

communities after their release from Prison in a bid to minimize crime recidivism.

UDPAS mission is to Protect the Rights of members of the Society from repeat

offenders by promoting the Rights, Social rehabilitation and Reintegration of

Offenders as Law abiding, Productive Citizens.

Contacts

Plot 100 Spring Road, Kiswa Opposite Shell, Bugolobi

P.O Box 28043 Kampala,

Tel: +256 (0) 414 235 821, +256 (0) 782 528 667, +256 (0) 782 884 169

Email: info@udpas.org

Website: www.udpas.org

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Kituo Cha Katiba (East African centre for Constitutional Development)

This was established in 1997 with the mission of promoting multi-interdisciplinary

communication, dialogue and action on constitution making and democratic

governance in the East African region.

Contacts,

P.O Box 3277 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 414 251 717

Email: kituachakatiba@infocom.co.ug

Africa Human Rights Monitoring Organization (AHURIMO)

This was established in 2008 with the overall goal of monitoring human rights abuses

in Uganda and Africa generally.

Contacts

Plot 181 Bombo Road, Crown House

P.O Box 6714 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 782 372 976

Email: ahurimo@gmail.com

Habitat for Humanity Uganda

This is a Christian non denominational housing ministry that became operational in

Gulu in 1982.

Contacts

Plot 40 Bombo Road, NITCO House, First Floor,

P.O Box 9873 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 414 343 224

Fax: +256 414 431 835

Email: hjhu@starcom.co.ug

84

Human Rights and Civic Education Forum (HURICEF)

This came up as a product of the Paralegal Training Programme of Foundation for

Human Rights Initiative

Contacts

P.O Box 18169 Kayunga

Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC)

HURIPEC was formally constituted by Makerere University in 1993 as the first human

rights centre of its kind in the Sub Saharan Africa. It was intended to act as a focal

point in Uganda in the field of human rights and peace for the development of

academic programs in a systematic and progressive fashion.

Contacts

Makerere University

P.O Box 7062 Kampala

Tel: +256 414 532 954

Email: school@mkula.gn.apc.org

Kumi Human Rights Initiative (KHRI)

This was formed in 2000 as an initiative of the civil society concerns of how poor

people are not benefiting from both donor and government funds allocated to the

through district authorities and other implementers of programmes.

Contacts

Opposite Kumi Stanbic Bank Branch

P.O Box 140 Kumi

National Organizations of Trade Unions (NOTU)

This is mainly concerned with all the rights of workers. The National Organisation of

Trade Unions (NOTU) was established by Decree No. 29 of 1973. It is currently the

most representative Labour Centre in Uganda with Twenty labour union affiliates.

Contacts

Plot 64, Ntinda Road

85

P. O. Box 2150,Kampala – Uganda

Tel: +256 414 256295/ 288 592

Fax: +256 414 259833

Email: notu@ifocom.co.ug, info@notu.or.ug

The Uganda Consumers Protection Association (UCPA)

This was founded in 1995 and is affiliated to Consumers International (CI), a global

federation of consumer organizations and associate of Private Sector Foundation.

Contacts

Agip House, First Floor,

Plot 9 Kampala, Road,

P.O Box 23783 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 414 234 002, +256 772 502 441

Fax: +256 414 234 003

Email: ucpa@monitor.co.ug

Association of Human Rights Organisations in the Rwenzori Region (AHURIO)

Association of Human Rights Organizations (AHURIO) is a network of human rights

organizations that are implementing Human rights work in the Rwenzori Region. The

organization started in 2001 and currently has 17 member organizations. The

organization is geared towards improving the respect for Human rights in the

Rwenzori Region in particular and Uganda at large through member organizations.

Our Mission To strengthen the capacity of member organizations through facilitating

information sharing, training, lobbying, advocacy and legal accessibility to rural

people.

Contacts

PO Box 524 Fort Portal, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 483 22 165

Email: ahurioug @yahoo.com

Website: www.ahurio.org

86

World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated

to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and

injustice.

Contacts

Plot 15 B Nakesero Road,

Tel: +256 414 245 758/251642

Fax: +256 414 258 587

Action for Development (ACFODE)

ACFODE was formed in 1985 to promote women's empowerment, gender equality

and equity in Uganda through spearheading advocacy and networking efforts to

create an enabling environment as well as increasing the capacities of women in local

communities to manage their own activities in addition to standing up for their rights.

Contacts

ACFODE House, Plot 623/624

P.O. Box 16729, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 414 531 812

Email: acfode@starcom.co.ug

Akina Mama wa Afrika-Uganda (AMwA-U)

This was formed in 1998 to create space for African women to organise autonomously,

identify issues of concern to them and speak for themselves. AMwA aims to provide

solidarity, support, awareness, and to build links with African women active in the

areas of their own development.

Contacts

P.O. Box 24130, Kampala, Uganda

Plot 18 Bukoto Street

Tel: +256-41-543681/3

Fax: +256-41-543683

87

Email: amwa@amwa-ea.org

Website: http://www.akinamama.com

Association of Uganda Women Lawyers - FIDA (U)

This was formed in 1974 to assist women, children and other indigent groups attain

effective legal protection.

Contacts

P. O. Box 2157, Kampala, Uganda

Plot 54 Bukoto Street

Tel: +256-41-530848

Fax: +256-41-530848

Email: fida@fidauganda.or.ug

Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors (AUWMD)

The Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors (AUWMD) is a Non-

Governmental Organisation (NGO) established in 1987 with the purpose of improving

the health status of the population of Uganda, especially, women, children and

adolescents. Membership to the Association is open to all women doctors and female

dentists working in Uganda whether Ugandans or not, as well as, female medical

students.

Contacts

Kiswa Health Centre (Opposite Shell Bugolobi)

Old Port Bell Road � P.O. Box 10035, Kampala, Uganda

Phone: 256-41-251333 � Fax: 256-41-230262

Email: auwmd@uol.co.ug

Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women

(EASSI)

The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women is

sub-regional Civil Society Organization made up of committed individuals, NGOs,

coalitions and networks driven to transform gender relations and especially in the

Eastern Africa sub-region. Its mission is to facilitate follow-up of the Beijing and

88

African Platform for Action in order to enhance the advancement of women and social

justice

Contacts

Plot 87 Bukoto, Ntinda Road,

P.O Box 24965 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 414 285 163

Fax: +256 414 285 306

Email: eassi@eassi.org, eassi.eassi@gmail.com

Website: http://www.eassi.org

Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)

The mission of FAWODE is to promote gender equality in all decision-making

through advocacy, training research and publishing.

Contacts

Plot 15 Vubya Road, Ntinda-Nakawa Road,

Opposite Ntinda Market

P.O. Box 7176, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256-41-4286063

Fax: +256-41-4286029

Email: fowode@fowode.ug

Website: http://www.fowode.ug

The Mifumi Project

MIFUMI is an international aid and development agency that has worked over ten

years, reducing the burden of poverty by securing basic rights for people living in

remote communities of Uganda. MIFUMI supports the needs of and promotes

protection for women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse, as well as

bride price violations. The organization also works in close collaboration with partners

in the diaspora.

89

Established in 1994, MIFUMI has directly reached more than 50,000 women together

with their children with comprehensive services in education, health-care, micro-

enterprises and domestic violence advocacy. MIFUMI's greatest strength is being

based in the countryside and undertaking grassroots -up approach to advocacy, the

most important contribution being reform of bride price and domestic violence. We

have a regional network and partners in Eastern Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South

Africa and the UK. MIFUMI seeks to make every voice count particularly in tackling

domestic violence, polygamy, child marriages and the arbitrary and unlawful action

among justice delivery agents which is unfairly directed towards women seeking

protection.

Contacts

Plot 1 Masaba Road,

P.O Box 274 Tororo, Uganda

Tel: +256 (0) 392-966282, +256 (0) 752 781 122

Mob: +256 (0) 753 781 122, +256 (0) 757 781 122

E-mail: mifumi@mifumi.org itsupport@mifumi.org

Uganda Parliamentary Women’s Association (UWOPA)

This is a parliamentary caucus comprising of all women members of parliament but

open to male members as associates or horary members. This Association was

established during the 5th parliament of Uganda (1989-1994) with the aim of

engendering the legislative process, creating awareness campaigns and encouraging

lobbying and advocacy, networking, exchange programmes, training and institutional

and organizational capacity building. UWOPA provides a forum for women members

of parliament to discuss, share experiences and support activities that facilitate

women’s participation and leadership in all dimensions of politics including socio

economics, science and technology.

UWOPA is a major contributor to a just and gender sensitive constitution, legislation,

national policies that enable political, social and economic empowerment of women

and men in Uganda. The vision of UWOPA is Social justice, peace and Economic

Empowerment for all while its mission is to ensure engendered laws, policies, political

processes and equality in resource allocation to improve the quality of life of women

through effective representation, capacity building, political support and networking.

90

Contacts

Parliament Building, Room E 2 19; Ext.608

P.O Box 7178 Kampala

Tel: 256-41-233 244

Email: uwopa@parliament.go.ug

Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE)

EMRITE - Uganda Women Writers' Association was founded by Hon. Mary Karoro

Okurut in 1995 and it was officially launched on 3rd May 1996. FEMRITE is an

indigenous Non-Governmental Organisation that promotes women writing in

Uganda. Since inception, FEMRITE has nurtured award winning authors and poets.

Its mission is building a platform for women to contribute to national development

through creative writing

Contacts

Plot 147 Kiira Road, Kamwokya

P.O Box 705, Kampala Uganda,

Tel: +256 414 543 943, +256 772 743 943

Women in Law and Development in Africa - Uganda Chapter (WiLDAF - U)

This was formed in 1997 to establish a strong and viable network for the promotion of

a greater respect for women’s human rights in the public and private sphere in

Uganda using the law as a tool through advocacy, dissemination and monitoring of

relevant international standards and the establishment of a system for a quick

response to violations

Contacts

P. O. Box 27637, Kampala, Uganda

ISIS WICCE Building,

Plot 32 Bukoto Street, Kamwokya

Tel: +256-41-543953

Email: isis@starcom.co.ug

91

Women's Organisation for Development and Conflict Resolution (WODREC)

This was formed in 1998 and its mission is to promote socio-economic development

for all. The main goal of WODREC is to enhance the capacities and capabilities of rural

women groups, to develop and implement programmes aimed at improving the

standards of living of their communities through sustainable use of the environment

and the available resources

Contacts

P.O. Box 5005, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256-41-343321 / 256-77-623413

Email: wodrec@hotmail.com

Young Women Christian Association (YWCA)

This was formed in 1952 to build a fellowship of women and girls devoted to the task

of realizing in our common life those ideas of personal and social living to which we

are committed by our faith as Christians.

Contacts

P.O. Box 2108, Kampala, Uganda

Plot 1 and 3 George Street, Kampala

Tel: +256 41 342024 Fax: +256 41 241519

E-Mail: ywca@utlonline.co.ug

Uganda Local Authorities Association (ULAA)

This was formed in 1994 with a membership of 39 district councils. Today, its

membership includes all districts and all sub counties.

Contacts

National Insurance Building

P.O Box 23120 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 414 347 575

Fax: +256 414 251 949

Email: ulaa@africaonline.co.ug

92

Uganda National Students Association (UNSA)

This was formed in 1998 to advance the welfare and rights of students in the whole

country.

Contacts

Crested Towers, Uganda, Kampala

Tel: +256 414 345 342

Fax: +256 414 230 658

Anti- Corruption Coalition of Uganda (ACCU)

The Anti Corruption Coalition of Uganda (ACCU) brings together 70 civil society

organizations, individuals, religious leaders, academicians, media practitioners and

key institutions involved in the fight against corruption in Uganda.

It was formed in January 1999 and registered as an NGO under the NGO statute

which anti-corruption activists can enhance their capacity to tackle corruption and

build a strong voice and force that can effectively engage government on issues of

corruption.

Contacts

Plot 243 Tufnell Drive,

Mulago-Kamwokya Hill, Kampala, Uganda

Telephone: +256-414-535659/ 535660

Hotline: +256-414-662000

E-mail: info@accu.or.ug

3.12 Contact details of arts organisations working in the field of human rights or in

defence and promotion of human rights

Table 1: Contact details of arts organizations in the field of human rights

ORGANISATI

ON

CONTACT TELEPHONE E-MAIL/WEBSITE

Uganda

Artists’

Director www.ugpulse.com

93

Association

Uganda

Performing

Right Society

Director +256 41

4254170

+256 77

2501487

www.uprs.biz

House of

Talent

Andrew Lwanga

Ssebaggala

Jedidiah

+256 776 617 45

+256 704 814

506

jedidiahs25@yahoo.com

www.houseoftalents.com

Margaret

Trowell School

of Industrial

and Fine Art

Director/

Dean

+256 414 532

954

www. sifa.mak.ac.ug

Cultural

Heritage

Exchange

Centre (CHEC)

Executive

Director- Darius

Kabona

+256 752 598

115

chakutture-

ug@yahoo.com

Uganda

Theatre

Network EATII

– Uganda

Executive Officer-

Andrew Lwanga

Ssebaggala

+256 752 617

450

+256 414 530

942

Jedidiahs25@yahoo.com

utuneati@yahoo.com

Uganda

National

Commission

for UNESCO

Secretary General

or Assistant

Secretary General

+256 414 259

713

aomare@unesco.uganda.u

g ragoi@unesco-

uganda.ug

Department of

Museums &

Monuments

Commissioner,

Mwanja Rose

+256 772 485

624

mwanjankale@yahoo.com

African

Cultural

Renewal for

Development-

+256 772 490

378

+256 414 579

096

acred08@yahoo.com

94

Cultural Assets

Centre-

(Uganda Rural

Development

Training

Akello Jackie janake42002@yahoo.com

Development

Research and

Training

Andrew Kawooya 0414-269491 drt@imul.com

Jenga-Africa Jeff Wadulo 0772500726 jengaafrika@yahoo.com

Historic

Resources

Conservation

Initiatives

(HRCI)

Ellady Muyambi +256 712 213

888

elladmuyambi@yahoo.co

m,

historicresources11@gmail

.com

Integrated

Efforts in

Culture for

Development

Tusiime Herbert +256 782 673

257

butungyipafura@yahoo.co

m

Engabu Za

Tooro

Stephen

Rwagweri

+256 772 469

751

engabuzatooro@infocom.c

o.ug

Architect –

Buildings and

Acholi cultural

issues

Okema James +256 772 416

306

National Arts

and Crafts

Association

Executive Director +256 772 345

079

nnyanziart@gmail.com

Kabarole

Research

Centre (KRC)

Executive Director +256 772 583

938

krc@iwayafrica.com

International

Anti-

Corruption

Theatre

John Kakaire +256 772 456

929

johnkakaire@yahoo.co.uk,

iatmug@yahoo.com

95

Movement

Ankole

Cultural

Foundation

Arch George

William

Katatumba

+256 772 430

070

MDD Dept-

MAK

Dr. Mirembe

Mercy

+256 772 663

734

eati@arts.mak.ac.ug,

mirembentangaare@yaho

o.ie

Dept of

Architecture

MUK

Dr. Allan Birabi +256 755 553

310

akbirabi@yahoo.co.uk

Igongo

Cultural Centre

James Tumusiime +256 772 722

828

Afro design

and the Arts

Executive Director +256 772 483

330

mmugalula@yahoo.co.uk

Dr.

Kamuhangire

Presidential

advisor on

Heritage issues

0772899184 ekamuhangire2007@yaho

o.com

Kiyimba

Musisi

Executive

Director, Artists

Sacco

077 2435555

Amakula Director (Lee

Ellickson) or Stage

Manager (Ken

Barongo)

0782-483248

0782-913027

lee@amakula.com

coolkenb@yahoo.com

Theatre Factory Julius Lugaya 0752630681 juliuslugaaya@yahoo.co.u

k

Bayimba

Cultural

Foundation

Director (Kiwewa

Faisa)

0414 591 670

0752548784

0715359916

info@bayimba.org

bayimba@gmail.com

www.bayimba.org

In movement Country Director 0753-222298 info@inmovement.org

96

(Justin Silbaugh)

Cross Cultural

Foundation

(CCFU)

Director (Emily

Drani)

0312 294 675

0752-622543

ccfu@crossculturalfoundat

ion.or.ug

Uganda

Natioanl

Cultural Centre

(UNCC) or the

National

Theatre

Director (Joseph

Walugembe) or

Studio manager

(Warren Segawa)

0772449262

0772-390228

walugembe_joseph@yaho

o.com

craniseg@yahoo.com

UGCS Director (Roberta

Wagner) or

Cultural

coordinator (Caro

Bader)

0772-918497

0775-652312

ugcskampala@web.de

ugcsculture@web.de

Alliance

Francaise

Director (Jean-

Jacques

Montourcy) or

Cultural

coordinator

(Guillaume

Cailleaux)

0712-200318

0712-200253

jacques.m

ontourcy@diplomatie.gou

v.fr

culture@afkampala.org

Nnyanzi

Studios

Director (Numa

Wamala)

0772-345079 nnyanziart@gmail.com

Art beat Director education

and community

(Moontana Ray)

montana.artbeat@gmail.co

m

Great lakes Director (Dan

Kitakule)

0772-700536 dan.kitakule@greatlakesfil

m.com

Uganda film

and television

institute

Director (Faustin

Misanvu)

0772-934102 faustin@uftiuganda.com

African film Director (Abdallah 0782-619296 afagency@gmail.com

97

Agency Kigozi) 0714-672194

Tangaza

community

cinemas

Technical director

(Jeremy K. Muli)

0774-069007 tangazacinemas@gmail.co

m

Ndere Centre Director (Stephen

Rwangyezi)

0772-200104 rwangyezi.s

@ndere.com/info@ndere.c

om

The Uganda

Theatre

Network

Gazette

Associate Editor

(John Bosco

Kyabaggu)

752-841567

0751-611087

chabbyjb@gmail.com

MOMA

International

Ltd

Manager (Philly

Jjemba)

256-753-055747 moma_ugltd@yahoo.co.uk

A & K African

Arts and crafts

Director 0772-963965 craftsabels@yahoo.com

Maisha Programme

Director (Musarait

Kashmiri)

0712-639904 maishafilmlab@infocom.c

o.ug

Uganda

Musicians

Union

General Secetary

(Dick Matovu)

+256 772 998

811

musicunionug@yahoo.co

m

Timeless

International

CEO (Cephas

Milton)

0782-400 000

0756-300100

rockamilley@yahoo.com

Serumaga

Centre

Director (Kalundi

Serumaga)

0772-744231 kalundi@yahoo.com

Arts Treasure Director (Kaya

Kagimu)

0772-404627 kayanaki@yahoo.com

Uganda

Muslim

Women

Association

Chairperson

(Hajat.Anipha

Naddima

Mpanga)

0772-418928 wugandamuslimwomen

@yahoo.com

98

Entebbe Art

and cultural

centre

Research Creative

Director (Eria

Nsubuga)

0782-363948/

0703-403887

eria.nsubuga@gmail.com

Silver Theatre Managing Director

(Silver Muganga)

0752-613046

Expert Piano &

Todlers

Teachers

Teachers and

performer

(Samson Lugya

0772-404602 samylug@yahoo.co.uk

Sikyomu Drum

Makers

Director

(Omukugu

Mukwaya)

0772-470196

TAKS through

art keep

smiling

Director (Santa

Joyce Laker)

0772-498650 health_gulu_ug@yahoo.co

m

Uganda Art for

Peace (UAFP)

Plot 28/30, Bombo

Rd, Teachers

House

P.O Box 23651,

Kampala, Uganda

0772955755

http://www.idealist.org/

org.

TEENS Uganda Programme

Representative/Di

rector (Hamba

Richard) or

Leadership and

Peer Trainers

(Wajuwoth M. Joy)

or Project secretary

(Maureen

Najjemba) or SIYB

Trainer/Counselor

0702675138,

0712 675138

0703 888361

0702 596594

info@teensuganda.org or

hambarichard@yahoo.com

teensuganda@gmail.com

jwajuwoth@yahoo.com

Xenson art Director, artists

(Xenson Ssekaba)

0772-564558 xensonart@yahoo.com

Percusion

discusion africa

Director (Herman

Ssewanyana)

0752-648709 pdasewi@yahoo.com

99

Nomad roots Director (Kinobe) 07723204046 contact@nomadroots.com

Probe EA

limited

Director (Bob

Ejike)

0774-247414 bobejikestudios@yahoo.co

m

Good enuf

production inc

Director (Eddie

Mpagi)

aydee@goodenuffproducti

ons.com

Folklore

ambassadors

uganda

Director (Julius

Kyakuwa)

0772-489416 juliuskyakuwa@usa.net

Golden Gate

Choir

Director (Kizito) 0772-480368

Afrigo Band Director (Moses

Matovu)

0772-443273

Quela Music Director (Joe

Kahirimbanyi)

0712-990222 joe@qwelamusic.com

Uganda

international

film foundation

Film maker

(Michael Van

Oosterhout)

0753-132151 moosttwo@hotmail.com

Makerere

University

Sculptor, Art

Historian (George

Kyeyune)

0772-325320 gwkyeyune@hotmail.com

The Planets Artistic Director

(Kiyimba Musisi)

0701-404500

Maurice Kirya Managing Director

(Maurice Kirya)

0779659288 mauricekirya@yahoo.com

Linl Records Managing Director

(Mariam

Nalubega)

0774-373275 info-

linkrecordsug@yahoo.com

Eagles

Productions

Director (Musa

Kavuma)

0752-777377 kavumamusa@yahoo.com

Gazelle East

Africa

Assistant Director

(Macklean

0703-052594 shinamacreen@yahoo.co.u

k

100

Nagaba)

Kazi NI Kazi

sculpture

Studio

Sculptor and

technician (Henry

Segamwenge)

0712-943899 hsegahzooo@yahoo.com

Kora systems

Band

Managing Director

(Franco Mpamizo)

0772-401644

Buganda Music

Ensemble

Instrumentalist

(Albert Ssempeke)

0712-857393 albertbisaso@yahoo.com

Bristol

Academy Brass

band

Director (Eddie

Kisingiri)

0772-426295

Dove

Entertainment

Director (Dorrys

Mutahunga)

0782-557244

0701-557244

Kitara Cultural

Performers

Director (Enoth

Matsiko)

0782441733

0772691976

kitaracutluralperformers@

yahoo.com

Fenox studios Director (Steve

Jean)

0772-406052

Arise hiphop Artist (Abass

Hassan ugly)

0783-038090 uglyhiphop@gmail.com

Baxba waves Band leader

(Godfrey

Lubuulwa)

0772-460814 godlub2002@yahoo.co.uk

Kads band Kawesa 0756-300030

0712-632333

Milege Managing Director

(Francis Manana

Birabi)

0712-343564 mbirabi@gmail.com

101

3.13 Contact details of media (journalists, newspapers, bloggers, etc) working to

promote or defend human rights

Table 2: Contact details of media people defending human rights

First

Name

Last Name Organization Telephone Email

Edward Musinguzi UBC 0772-669787 emusinguzi@ubc.ug

Irene Birungi UBC 0752-888909 birungi80@yahoo.co.uk

Monica Waceke UBC 0782-064586 moniwaceke@yahoo.com

Jane Kasumba UBC 0752-620569 janekasumba@yahoo.com

Michael Kalema UBC 0712-0752-

885624

mmk302003@yahoo.co.uk

Sarah Nakyamba

dde

UBC Radio 0775-134146 nakyambaddes@yahoo.com

Paul Sebikali KFM 0772-341991 pharera@kfm.co.ug

Moses Serugo www.kampa

laone.com

0712-291973 info@kampalaone.com

Tom Magumba Daily

Monitor

0752-999779 tmagumba@monitor.co.ug

Edwin Nuwagaba Daily

Monitor

0774-235367/

0715-154583

enuwagaba@monitor.co.ug

Paul Amoru Daily

Monitor

0752-313752 pamoru@monitor.co.ug

Darius Mugisha Daily

Monitor

0712-219058

0752-219058

dmugisha@monitor.co.ug

Alex Atuhaire Daily

Monitor

0712-499122

0702-499122

aatuhaire@monitor.co.ug

Geoffrey Sseruyange Daily

Monitor

0712-836181 gsseruyange@monitor.co.ug

102

Antony Lunalo NTV 0782-724173 alunalo@ntvuganda.co.ug

Michael Musoni NTV 0772-422667 mmusoni@ntvuganda.co.ug

Miles Rwamiti New Vision 0772-906290 rwamiti_miles@yahoo.com

Pidson Kareire New Vision 0712-124871 pkareire@yahoo.com

James Kabengwa New Vision 0772-382430 -

0712-382430

kabengwaj@yahoo.com

Gilbert Mwijuke New Vision 0712-529441 gmwijuke@newvision.co.ug

Emmanue

l

Ssejjengo New Vision 0772-914938 essejjengo@newvision.co.ug

Ibrahim Ssegirinya New Vision 0712-890354 sbrask099@yahoo.com

Vitoria Namata New Vision 0782-405767 vnamata@newvision.co.ug

Richard Ssemakula New Vision 0772-575718

0712-562160

richsemakula@hotmail.com

Moses Opobo New Vision 0772-967293 mopobo2002@yahoo.com

Ronald Kabuubi New Vision 0712-850429 rkabuubi@yahoo.com

Lawrence Ssengendo New Vision 0714-0782-

955571

issengendo@newvision.co.ug

Ronnie Okoth Radio One 0712-421233 ronnieokoth@gmail.com

Ronald Mutebi Radio

Sapientia

0772-546459

David Tumisiime The weekly

Observer

0777-684400 dtumusiime@observer.ug

Simon Musasizi The weekly

Observer

0712- 0702-

652242

musasimo@yahoo.com,

smusasizi@ugandaobserver.c

om

Job Mwesigwa The weekly

Observer

0782-272603 job@yahoo.com

Hillary N.Kiirya The 0752-515909 hkiirya@independent.co.ug

103

Independent hkiirya@gmail.com

Francis Xavier

Ssempiira

Red Pepper 0774-817860 ssempiira@gmail.com,

fssempiira@redpepper.co.ug

Medi Red Pepper 0782-117484

Bamutura

ki

Musinguzi The East

African

0772-434487 musibamu@gmail.com

Sam Busiku The East

African

0712-084260 busikusamuel02@yahoo.com

Moses Kaketo The Sunrise 0782-507579 kaketomoses@yahoo.com

Capital radio admin@capitalfm-ug.com

Godwin Byamukam

a

Sanyu FM 0712-968584 godwin@sanyufm.com

Moses Katongole Metro FM 0772-519090

Nathan Ochole Silver screen 0772-636006 nathan@silverscreenug.com

Issac Kuddzu Vision Voice 0712-699520 iteeba@newvision.co.ug

Arne Doorneneb

al

0773-446101 arne.doornebal@gmail.com

Henry Mpinga Cbs 0772-603187 hmpinga1@yahoo.uk.com

Fred Asiimwe Vision Radio 0772-444265

Agatha Kaffoko Vision Radio 0772-389305 agatha_asiimwe@yahoo.com

Michael Bahati Radio Maria 0772-301085 info.uga@radiomaria.org

micahaelbahati@gmail.com

Richard Kilembeka Top TV 0712-874133

Margret Nabweteme Magic fm 0773-419836 margretnabweteme@yahoo.c

om

Molly Nankya Star Fm 0712-351093 nankyamolly@gmail.com

Richard Wasswa Ultimate 0753-304050 goodrichards@yahoo.com

104

Media

Freddie Kasirivu Bukedde 0782-000509 eddikasirivu@yahoo.com

Aminah Abuusa Radio Bilal 0782-341013

Kidfox Kid fox 0782-347444

Jenkins Mukasa 0712-943724

Juliana Kanyomozi juliana 0782-744999

Samuel

Herbert

Nsubuga ACTV 0712-200641 ceo@actvuganda.org

Sanneh Adama Cesvi 0773-259249 adamasanneh@hotmail.com

Marco Domenico Cesvi 0774-130949 cesviuganda@infocom.co.ug

Richard Nixon

Ssewanyan

a

The Weekly

Observer

0752 337 788,

0772 351 982

rnssewanyana@ugandaobser

ver.com

rnssewanyana@yahoo.com

John Sserwaniko

Vivian

Red Pepper 0752 401 583,

0703 164 755,

0772 760 904

sserwniko@yahoo.com

Paul Busharizi The New

Vision

0772 500 136 pbusharizi@newvision.co.ug

Brendah Kobusingye Red Pepper

0772 333 135 brendababs2000@yahoo.com

Babrah S Anyait The New

Vision

0782 836 318 danyait@newvision.co.ug

Lorna Busingye The New

Vision

0772 866 089 lbusingye@newvision.co.ug

105

Stella Nsubira Red Pepper

0782 12 273,

0703 669 756

mmwesigye@yahoo.com

John

Nyarwa Monitor

Publications

0752 423 697 jnyarwa@monitor.co.ug

Latim Ocoko

Robert

Monitor

Publications

0772 572 122 rochoko@monitor.co.ug

Ceaser Kiza

Cleophas

WBS TV

0772 497 919,

0712 497 919

kizac@wbs-tv.com

email@wbs-tv.com

Julius Mubangizi Voice of

Kigezi FM

0774 423 588,

0772 777 267

vokmedia@yahoo.com

vokmedia@utlonline.co.ug

Peterson Ssendi VOA - FM

Radio Simba

sendson2001@yahoo.com

Pius Murefu

Sawa

Radio

Sapienta

0772 357 412 sawapius@yahoo.com

Fredrick Mugira Africa News

(radio)

0712 924 533 mugifred@yahoo.com

Evelyn Matsamura

Kiapi

The Weekly

Observer;

IPS

evelynkiapi@yahoo.com

Francis Bahene WBS

Television

0 712 990 667 bahene@yahoo.com

Stephen Bwire The Nation oumastephen@hotmail.com

Bwogi Buyera Focus

Newspaper

0772 674 456 bwogib@yahoo.co.uk

Rebecca Birungi Mama FM 0782 296 625 birgloche@yahoo.com

Anthony Morland IRIN - East

and Central

Africa Senior

+ 254 207 622

964

Anthony@IRINnews.org

106

Editor

Gabriel Kahn RFI, France

24

256 782 503

312

gabrielkahn@yahoo.fr

Peter

Wamboga-

Mugirya

Scidev.net;

IPS; many

national

publications

on

agriculture

0712 319 245 pwamboga@yahoo.co.uk

Denis Ocwich Freelance ocwich@yahoo.co.uk

Rosebell Kagumire Africa

Broadcasting

; NTV

Uganda

0782 033 312 rosebell.kagumire@gmail.co

m

Patricia Okoed-

Bukumunh

e

RFI English;

Capital FM

0772 641 800 pokoed@yahoo.com

Rose Namale Radio One 0772 453 207 rosenamale@yahoo.co.uk

Diana Wanyana KFM 0712 237 079 dwanyana@monitor.co.ug

Evaline Namuwaya NBS TV 0703 700 254 itseve14@yahoo.com

Hassan Wasswa NBS TV 0703 700 267 wasswahassan@yahoo.co.uk

Aidah Nanyonjo New Vision

(feature

writer)

0752 813 234 anyonjo@yahoo.com

Andrew Ssenyonga The New

Vision

0715 410 521 assenyonga@newvision.co.ug

Robert Bwaita UBC TV 0712 677 413 bwaitarobert@yahoo.com

Felix Oketcho UBC TV 0752 651 749 foketcho@yahoo.com

Flavia Nalubega The Daily

Monitor

0777 676 464 flavianalubega@yahoo.com

107

Diana Nabiruma The Weekly

Observer

0702 231 074 dnabiruma@gmail.com

Andrew Mwenda The

Independent

amwenda@independent.co.u

g

Susan Bamutenda 0712-926999 bamutenda@gmail.com

Susan Kerunen 0772-871742 kerus05@yahoo.com

Fred Ssebatta 0751-317777

Peter Suwalski peterjsuwalski.com

Sam Lutaya 0712-486416 samluta@gmail.com

Sarah Ndagire 0772-595639 ugproduct@gmail.com

Edison Mugalu 0712-423268 mugalu2004@yahoo.com

Irish Kyebandul

a

0773003501

0702003501

irish@kyebandula.co.ug

Joanita Bewulira 0772-432236 joanittaw@yahoo.com

Paulo Akiiki 0772-542255 ujuziart@gmail.com

Halima Namakula 0772-444544 onendugu@yahoo.com

3.14 Concrete examples of artists who have suffered under the contravention of

freedom of expression by political authorities, religious authorities, cultural

practices, economic or other forms of censorship and fellow artists or arts

organisations.

One of the artists whose rights have been hampered by political authorities is

Nzaramba Sebakwiye Vicent Ssalongo, the writer. He was born and raised in the

slums of Mulago, Kampala, Uganda to Pastor Nanyonjo Josephine and Mr. Ezekiel

Nzaramba. His mission is to actively advance and participate in the world wide study

and strategic use of nonviolent action in conflict.

108

Figure 6: Mr. Nzaramba Sebakwiye Vicent Ssalongo

Source: nonviolentrevolutionug.com

After releasing his book titled “People Power, Battle the Mighty General” He is

Finished (Museveni), he was arrested and detained by Uganda’s anti-terrorism Rapid

Response Unit (RRU) at Kireka in Kampala. Five days later, he was freed from his cell.

When Nzaramba was taken into custody, police confiscated over 200 copies of his

unreleased book. The book, which Nzaramba says is inspired by Martin Luther King

Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, explores the history of peaceful revolutions and expresses

Nzaramba’s disappointment in President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the

country for twenty-five years and has become increasingly reliant on military force.

Currently, Nzaramba, who claims he is still a member of Uganda’s ruling party, the

National Resistance Movement, is on police bail and faces charges of inciting violence.

In his first interview since his release, Nzaramba responded to his charge of

incitement: “It is not incitement. I am guiding the nation. I was warning that if we do

not pass through constitutional means of changing power, then Museveni is finished.

Another writer who has faced persecution from political authorities is Dr Olive

Kobusingye for her book The Correct Line? Uganda under Museveni and Charles

Ochen Okwir for his book Portrait of a Despot. Dr Olive Kobusingye’s book makes no

pretences at objectivity in its dissection of what the author presents as the ironies and

contradictions between President Museveni’s style of governance today and what, 29

years ago, compelled him into armed rebellion against Apollo Milton Obote’s

government.

Dr Olive Kobusingye is a sister to Dr Kiiza Besigye, the President of Forum for

Democratic Change (FDC). The book’s consignments were held at Customs at Entebbe

109

International Airport since last Friday, October 8, when DHL shipped it in because,

according to its author, it was deemed anti-government.

Figure 7: Dr Olive Kifefe Kobusingye

Source: www.thecorrectline.com

The book likens Museveni and his government to George Orwell’s classic Animal

Farm. Published in 1945, this allegorical novel tells the story of pigs who led a

rebellion of animals against their oppressive master, Mr. Jones, off Manor Farm only

for them to turn around and do exactly, if not worse, what they had rebelled against.

On the exact date she had scheduled to launch this book at Sheraton Hotel in

Kampala, she reportedly received a telephone call from a hotel that it could not host

the function. Nevertheless, she later manovoured and launched it. The same book was

translated into the Luganda version “Lino Ly’ekubbo Ettuufu? Uganda Ne Museveni”

and when she tried to launch it at Masaka Tropical Inn Hotel, Security officials in

Masaka convened a crisis meeting ahead of the launch and stopped the launch.

However, she later managed to launch it at Pope Paul Memorial Centre in Rubaga

Kampala but before the end of the launch, security agents cordoned off the whole area

and refused journalists from accessing the venue.

110

CHAPTER FOUR

OBSERVATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.0 Introduction

This chapter discusses the observations, conclusions and recommendations by the

researcher. This is based on the related literature reviewed as well as the researcher’s

own view point.

4.1 Observations

The role of Art in Africa is important for all who are concerned with the advancement

of African Culture, African thought and the African personality. The Art of Africa is

no longer looked upon as fetish, as it had been during the early days of European

exploration of the Continent. Despite this recognition however, African Artists still

face enormous challenges. Artists in Africa in general and in Uganda particularly have

suffered from restrictive legislative frameworks as well as cultural and political

interferences among others.

4.2 Conclusions

The potential of the arts and culture to contribute to social and economic development

in Uganda is not yet fully recognized. Under-appreciation and under-estimation of its

potential coupled with the under developed state of the arts and culture in Uganda lie

at the heart of this lack of recognition.

There is a crisis of identity in Uganda as a state constructed by colonialism as well as

crisis in terms of individual values and self perception. Lack of originality of

performing artists may in part, be attributed to an identity crisis at individual level

where artists’ creativity is dependent on foreign ideas and values resulting in products

that are a poor imitation, mediocre and a dilution of local artists’ brands.

There is limited conceptual clarity about culture, its implications and value within and

outside the leadership of the culture sector beyond culture as music, dance and drama

or as a commercial commodity.

4.3 Recommendations

• A series of annual conferences be organized around nationally relevant themes

to help raise the profile of arts and culture in Uganda in order to make it

relevant to national development or at-least, provide an annual platform for

joint discussion and action by Ugandan artists, artist organizations and other

stakeholders;

111

• Build an effective network of artistes and culture practitioners in order to

effectively build upon the existing initiatives;

• Increase access to information and funding, stimulate joint planning of

activities and initiatives, engage in joint advocacy campaigns for example for

cultural awareness, state recognition and support in order to increase the

sustainability of artists and the cultural sector;

• Promote and establish a fund for local cultural industries and institutions such

as script writers, performers, musicians, film makers etc in order to produce

quality content that, are marketable across boarders;

• Carry out a capacity needs assessment especially in the areas of qualified

personnel, materials and equipment, knowledge about markets for products,

infrastructure and coordination;

• Facilitate the development and implementation of a comprehensive capacity

building plan for culture practitioners and institutions that promote culture e.g.

by giving investment incentives;

• Support the implementation of culture interventions through local

governments, civil society organizations and the private sector through joint

programmes in order to address conflicts, uphold democracy and promote

sustainable development;

• Recognize, promote and conserve cultural assets such as museums in order to

promote tourism development, employment and socio-economic development

• Emphasize the promotion of a harmonious co-existence among the different

indigenous communities and encourage intra and inter-cultural exchange;

• Promote respect and tolerance among different beliefs and value systems;

• Identify talented people for recognition and support; and

• Initiate the review of culture specific laws especially those which limit creative

expression.

112

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