Bbosa
Authorities in Uganda have said bloggers and other online publishers or broadcasters must register with authorities, drawing criticism from those who see it as an attack on free speech ahead of next year’s election.
In a statement Monday, the Uganda Communications Commissions said bloggers and online news sites must seek the necessary authorization with it by October 5.
A spokesman for the agency, Ibrahim Bbosa told newsmen Tuesday that the directive was provoked in part by “an avalanche of people interested in opening online media,” and said “We know that if these tools are misused, they can lead to trouble.”
With the banning of election campaigning by authorities aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus, Uganda’s social media scene has become even more vibrant in recent months.
The election pits a longtime president with a youthful opponent in a reflection of generation gap seen across much of Africa.
According to government figures about 17 million of Uganda’s mostly youthful population of 41 million are active internet users. Ugandan authorities in recent years have been accused of trying to suppress online activities by imposing a tax targeting social media users that has been in force since July 2018.
The tax was saddled with the responsibility to daily access all social media websites and apps.
However, Amnesty International has urged Ugandan authorities to scrap the unpopular tax, calling it “a clear attempt to undermine the right to freedom of expression” in this East African country.
Such a tax was first proposed by President Yoweri Museveni, who once complained about online gossip in a letter calling on the finance minister to raise money “to cope with the consequences.” Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is up for re-election next year and he faces the youthful opposition lawmaker and singer known as Bobi Wine, who has urged the president to retire peacefully.