With political space restricted, our government now targets the arts

Many a government loves to control the people it rules (or governs). There is, however, a particular flavour to the way the NRM government and President Museveni are going about this malign business.

Mr Museveni has ensured there is no law that prevents him from running for President and winning until the end of times. He is, however, savvy enough to know that he has to continue working to stop any real challenge to his hold on to power. He uses legal and administrative ways to cage opponents both current and prospective.

Legally, for example, the government has a law that allows it to decide which public political gathering to allow, and another law that allows it to decide which communications to monitor.
Administratively, the government now watches what we all do on Kampala streets through the cameras it is planting all over the city.

The latest outrage is the move to squeeze performing artistes. In proposed regulations, no performing artiste or public entertainer shall perform without being registered by the ministry responsible for culture, and such a performer will have to have a practising certificate. Misbehave and the certificate is withdrawn. A censorship squad christened Uganda National Culture Forum will be the body to approve artistic works or else such creations will not see the stage or the screen.

Plus, no performing abroad without permission from the government. The essence of this especially obnoxious provision is that the government wants to control the movement of its ordinary citizens.
There are other provisions that are equally nonsensical, except that they add paternalism to them. No drugs. Keep proper hygiene. Dress decently. Our busybody government wants to parent adults.

The cultural ignoramuses in government, in pursuit of eternal power, have decided it is a creative idea to kill a promising creative economy. Instead of encouraging an area of the economy where talented and ambitious young people are trying to make a career as well as create jobs for themselves and others, their own government that is always talking down at youth about being job creators is messing with them.

Their own government doesn’t care for their right to express themselves — which right rightfully includes singing about governmental autocracy, corruption, and incompetence that are choking the economy and stifling job-creation.

Maybe, just maybe, if this government were supportive of the arts, it would claim some moral authority to regulate the artistic space. It has been so oblivious of the arts world that for it to wake up now because of a few politically critical songs is so galling.
A freewheeling artistic environment means that songs about state repression, always in the minority, will appear alongside songs about puppy love. And all can be enjoyable.

But for the NRM government, and indeed our governments since 1962, the only music or play that matters is that which praises the eternal wisdom of the man in State House.
The thing though is this: President Museveni’s government has severely restricted the political space, it has restricted the media space, and next it is seeking to restrict the arts and culture space.

And remember also the ongoing rumblings on the religious front. The government is proposing that for anyone to preach the word of God, he or she should have completed formal religious training.

It also requires the religious entities to account for the monies they receive. But this transparency and accountability requirement, good as it is, masks the real intent of the policy: to prevent religious leaders from criticising the government. That is what the policy means by talking of bringing harmony between religious and faith-based organisations (RFBOs) and the state.

The New Vision quoted from the policy and reported that it says that it has been observed that “there is increasing involvement of RFBOs in political activities which has led to disharmony and friction between the State and RFBOs”.
For there to be harmony in Uganda, no one should criticise President Museveni’s government. Not the media. Not the artistes. Not the religious leaders. Not even the political Opposition. This is crazy.

It means, however, that it is in the interest of every Ugandan (not serving in the NRM) to fight for essential freedoms, including free expression. Severe criticism of the sitting government is part of the deal.
Or else we will each soon need the permission of the government to think our thoughts.

Bernard Tabaire is a media trainer and commentator on public affairs based in Kampala.
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Twitter:@btabaire