New law in Uganda imposes restrictions on use of internet - KXAN.com

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed into instrumentality authorities criminalizing immoderate net enactment contempt concerns the instrumentality could beryllium utilized to soundlessness morganatic criticism.

The bill, passed by the legislature successful September, was brought by a lawmaker who said it was indispensable to punish those who fell down computers to wounded others. That lawmaker argued successful his measure that the “enjoyment of the close to privateness is being affected by the maltreatment of online and societal media platforms done the sharing of unsolicited, false, malicious, hateful and unwarranted information.”

The caller authorities increases restrictions successful a arguable 2011 instrumentality connected the misuse of a computer. Museveni signed the measure connected Thursday, according to a statesmanlike spokesman’s statement.

The authorities proposes jailhouse presumption of up to 10 years successful immoderate cases, including for offenses related to the transmission of accusation astir a idiosyncratic without their consent arsenic good arsenic the sharing oregon intercepting of accusation without authorization.

Opponents of the instrumentality accidental it volition stifle state of look successful a state wherever galore of Museveni’s opponents, for years incapable to signifier thoroughfare protests, often rise their concerns connected Twitter and different online sites.

Others accidental it volition termination investigative journalism.

The instrumentality is “a stroke to online civilian liberties successful Uganda,” according to an investigation by a watchdog radical known arsenic Collaboration connected International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa, oregon CIPESA.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is among groups that urged Museveni to veto the bill, noting its imaginable to undermine property freedom.

“Ugandan legislators person taken the incorrect crook successful attempting to marque an already problematic instrumentality adjacent worse. If this measure becomes law, it volition lone adhd to the arsenal that authorities usage to people captious commentators and punish autarkic media,” the group’s Muthoki Mumo said successful a connection aft lawmakers passed the bill.

Museveni, 78, has held powerfulness successful this East African state since 1986 and won his existent word past year.

Although Museveni is fashionable among immoderate Ugandans who praise him for restoring comparative bid and economical stability, galore of his opponents often picture his regularisation arsenic authoritarian.