By Jael Namiganda
Writers call for reformed laws that favor and protect against harsh treatments and most casesimprisonment
In Uganda there is freedom of expression but there is no guarantee of freedom after Expression
There is lack of actual freedom of expression in the artistic spaces with an issue of copy right and contact for artists
Reality is that in Uganda the freedom is not entirely given.
In a PEN Uganda engagement that brought together writers and artists, the Executive Director Uganda Reproductive Rights Organization Charles Batambuze said Artists need laws to protect artists from stringent laws like the law of defamation, anti-terrorism law, pornography, computer misuse act that prohibits writers from the freedom of expression.
Charles notes that Uganda has a lot of writers in Exile more than any other artist which shows as far as social protection is concerned writers are not given a platform.
“With in our constitution freedom of expression is guaranteed but instead we have to fight for because some people have certain interests they want to protect. The laws are prohibiting certain opinions to be censored”
Elizabeth Twongeirwe a human rights lawyer and also a creative artist says the history of writer’s recognition triples down to Uganda.
She notes that Uganda laws have cut down on the information put out, which turns out to be a limitation of right.
“Everyone has a right to write about what they need but the law prohibited depending on the circumstances. There is need of knowledge to know on how far someone is defamed” Elizabeth stressed.
Fortunate Atusasire programs officer and writer at femrite says there should be laws protecting writers especially the women. Fortunate says that there are all these laws but there is a lot of censorship stressing that some women feel like their stories are not worth sharing because culture has led us to think that women are supposed to be in the back doors.
“Much as the space is there, women do not feel free to share their stories. We should create systems that enable people and women to be able to write. We should have an enabling society that allows people to speak” Fortunate added
She noted that there spaces within the legal framework that enables people to express themselves however there is a list of laws that squash the right to expression.
