Top US Africa official speaks out on media bill, elections in Uganda

Johnnie Carson, the US’ top Africa official, spoke out recently on a controversial media bill being debated in Uganda, saying that the legislation was “not very thoughtful” and confirming that US officials in Uganda have raised concerns about the bill with the Ugandan government. Mr. Carson, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, also said that he personally urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni last month to take steps to ensure that Uganda’s upcoming elections are free and fair.  

Mr. Carson spoke out on the media bill and elections in Uganda last Tuesday during a hearing before the Africa subcommittee in the US House of Representatives focused on US policy in the Great Lakes region. His remarks before Congress came just days after a widely publicized visit to Uganda in which he met with President Museveni as well as leading members of political opposition parties. 

Representative Brad Miller (D-13th) of North Carolina raised the issue of media freedom with Mr. Carson during the hearing, highlighting proposed amendments to Uganda’s 1995 Press and Journalist Act that would give the Ugandan government the power to revoke the license of any newspaper that publishes material that is “prejudicial to national security, stability, or unity; injurious to Uganda’s relations with new neighbors or friendly countries; or amounts to economic sabotage.” The amendments would also require newspapers to apply for an operating license every year. 

Media and political opposition groups in Uganda, as well as international human rights and press freedom organizations, have condemned the proposed amendments, saying that the proposed annual newspaper license application process and sweeping powers to revoke licenses could be used by the ruling political party to shut down or intimidate media outlets critical of the Ugandan government. 

Representative Miller also asked Assistant Secretary Carson about growing international concerns that Uganda’s record on democratic governance is “getting worse.” In response, Mr. Carson said, “It is important that Uganda not move backwards, that it not stall but continue to move forward in strengthening its democratic institutions.” He also mentioned that he urged President Museveni to take steps to make Uganda’s Electoral Commission more broadly representative and credible and to improve the voter registration process in the run up to the February 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Earlier this year US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reported to Congress that the Ugandan government has so far failed to establish an independent electoral commission or take steps to establish an accurate and verifiable voter registry, and highlighted steps taken by the Government to impose restrictions on the ability of opposition parties and the media to operate freely.

Resolve Uganda applauds Congressman Miller for raising these critical points on media freedom and democratic governance in Uganda at a time when a shrinking of political space threatens not only the credibility of next year’s elections, but also the long-term stability of areas such as northern Uganda that are still rebuilding from decades of war. 

Mr. Carson’s comments last week and visit to Uganda demonstrate the Obama Administration’s recognition of the importance of a free media and fair elections to strengthening democratic governance in Uganda. We urge Mr. Carson and other senior Obama Administration officials to continue to substantively engage the Ugandan government on these issues.

Video footage of the exchange between Congressman Brad Miller and Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson can be found at the following link, beginning at the 1:39 minute mark: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1185

For more information on freedom of media in Uganda, see Human Rights Watch's May 2010 report, A Media Minefield: Increased Threats to Freedom of Expression in Uganda.