Government has banned all media houses from covering the defiance activities of oposition politicians and their supporters. Government officials say the move is geared toward stopping the flow of messages appealing to citizens to engage in unconstitutional activities including defiance and civil disobedience that would cultivate ground for violence.
Speaking on behalf of government this afternoon, the minister of Information and National Guidance Gen Jim Muhwezi said: “As government institutions we are simply enforcing an order issued by the Constitutional Court which banned all opposition defiance activities. All live broadcast of defiance activities should stop. Any media house that continues to cover them risks having their license revoked.”
Gen. Muhwezi added: ““This serves as a warning to the media short of which UCC will switch you off. We have the duty to preserve stability of Uganda. Cabinet directed that police ensures that court order is adhered to. And that all live broadcast of defiance campaign should stop. It contradicts the Supreme Court ruling which declared Museveni as democratically elected President.”
Gen. Muhwezi was accompanied to the press conference by Attorney General Fred Ruhindi, police boss Gen Kale Kayihura and UCC Executive Director Godfrey Mutabazi.
On his part the Attorney General said if the media isn’t pleased with the interim court order, they have a right to appeal against it through court -while adding that letting the media incite people by reporting on the defiance activities can destabilize the country.
The IGP Kayihura said now that the defiance campaign is illegal, editors handling news bulletins have a responsibility to remove all content related to FDC’s defiance campaign.
