A young man is arrested by a Uganda military policeman in the suburb of capital Kampala. (file photo)
Uganda’s parliament has passed a controversial bill that places restrictions on public meetings and demonstrations in the East African country.
On Tuesday, the parliament, which is dominated by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM), approved the Public Management Order bill despite criticism from opposition MPs and some right groups.
The bill gives the police discretionary power to break up meetings of three or more people discussing politics in public places or even in their homes.
Moses Ali, an NRM legislator, said the bill would “protect people’s interests,” adding, “We have as much as possible tried to accommodate the views expressed by the opposition as well as what the public thinks,” the Ugandan lawmaker said.
However, Moses Kasibante, an independent lawmaker, said the bill would be challenged in the constitutional court.
“It is a bad law, which restricts freedom of speech and expression and hinders democratic values… We have resolved to challenge it in the courts of law because it is against the constitution of Uganda,” said the opposition MP.
Human Rights Watch also criticized the bill calling it a “devastating blow for freedom of expression and assembly.”
“Political demonstrations already face serious obstacles, including the use of live ammunition on innocent bystanders and demonstrators,” said Maria Burnett, senior researcher in the HRW’s Africa Division.
On Monday, Amnesty International said the bill is part of a pattern of repression, referring to closure of two main independent newspapers and two radio stations for a while in May.
Å“This Bill represents a serious blow to open political debate in a country where publicly criticizing the government is already fraught with risk,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty Internationalâ„¢s deputy Africa director.
“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,” she added.
NT/AS
Republished from: Press TV