25 Ugandans arrested over Internet crimes
The report released by Unwanted Witness in Kampala on Friday adds that Uganda’s Internet use is increasingly getting controlled and criminalised by government, resulting in stifling of Internet users’ fundamental freedoms and rights.
What you need to know:
- Reacting to the report, Mr Fred Otunu, the Uganda Communications Commission spokesperson, said although Ugandans are encouraged to engage the Internet as much as possible in the 21st Century, they should bear in mind that they have responsibilities and obligations not to misuse it.
- Mr Emilian Kayima, the police spokesperson, conceded that the police have arrested some people and that some are facing prosecution for their social media posts deemed offensive or abusive under the Computer Misuse Act, 2011.
Kampala. A total of 25 Internet users were in 2017 arrested and subjected to trial for Internet abuse against Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011, according to a new report.
The report says the arrests were meant to instil fear and self-censorship among Internet users, which reflects government’s growing intolerance of critical on-line commentary.
The report released by Unwanted Witness in Kampala on Friday adds that Uganda’s Internet use is increasingly getting controlled and criminalised by government, resulting in stifling of Internet users’ fundamental freedoms and rights.
Unwanted Witness is a civil society organisation established to respond to the gap in effective communication using both online and offline expression platforms.
Addressing the media during the World Internet Day in Kampala, Ms Dorothy Mukasa, the Unwanted Witness executive director, described the arrests and attacks on Internet users as a mark of failure by government to uphold promises made to safeguard freedom of expression during the UN Universal Periodic Review.
“2017 registered the highest number of Ugandans ever arrested for their online expression and these arrests are clearly targeted crackdown on free flow of information and speech on the Internet,” Ms Mukasa said.
Reacting to the report, Mr Fred Otunu, the Uganda Communications Commission spokesperson, said although Ugandans are encouraged to engage the Internet as much as possible in the 21st Century, they should bear in mind that they have responsibilities and obligations not to misuse it.
He said anyone who has been arrested, in one way or the other, must have abused usage of the Internet.
Mr Emilian Kayima, the police spokesperson, conceded that the police have arrested some people and that some are facing prosecution for their social media posts deemed offensive or abusive under the Computer Misuse Act, 2011.
“Online communications users who post comments considered to be slanderous could face prosecution and prison if the posts are deemed illegal by the authorities. Police is just enforcing the law and that is our work,” Mr Kayima said.
