Cabinet has approved the Anti-pornography regulations 2015 to ease the implementation of the Anti-pornography Act 2014.
Addressing the media in Kampala today, Information and Guidance Minister, Jim Muhwezi said there were mixed reactions to the enactment of the Anti-pornography Act 2014.
He explains that; “The Anti-pornography law was intended to deal with pornographic material which is corrupting public morals and fanning dangerous sexual behaviors.”
Minister Muhwezi added; “However, the definition of pornography seems to have been narrowed by some to a ban of short skirts and dresses. Indeed there were reports of overzealous individuals attacking and undressing women wearing short dresses and skirts, particularly in urban areas.”
According to Muhwezi, this resulted into some women activists feeling that the Anti-pornography Act 2014 amounted to an infringement on women’s right to freedom to express themselves through dressing.
Cabinet has therefore cleared the Act and asked the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity to formulate clear regulations to operationize it.
The new guidelines specifically bar obscene publications and staging of erotic and nude drama and/or dances in Uganda. The guidelines also prohibit broadcasting of sexually explicit material in form of still pictures, video footage and vulgar presenter utterances on media air-waves.
“Cabinet has also authorized the minister of Ethics and integrity to issue a Statutory instrument to gazette the Anti-pornography regulations, 2015, so that enforcement can commence immediately.”
