Last week the Ugandan Parliament passed restrictive new legislation affecting public gatherings. The Public Order Management Bill 2011, originally drafted in 2009, has been described by Amnesty International as a “serious blow to open political debate”. It has not yet been signed into law by Uganda's president.
The Bill was opposed by religious groups, activists and opposition MPs. It gives the Ugandan police far-reaching powers including the ability to veto gatherings in a public place, require advance written notice of public meetings, and use firearms to disperse a crowd.
Amnesty International’s deputy Africa Director, Sarah Jackson said, “The Ugandan government must stop trying to crush the rights to free speech and peaceful demonstration as enshrined in its own constitution as well as international law.” Click here to read a press release from Amnesty International.
Uganda’s Constitution includes the right to freedom of association and human rights groups, including (HRNJ-U), Ugandan human rights groups have indicated that they intend to challenge the constitutionality of this Bill in the courts. Click here to read a press release from Uganda’s Human Rights Network for Journalists.
Click here to read an article from the BBC about the legislation.