Uganda Bans Livestreaming of Protests Ahead of General Election

Election Ban on Livestreaming

• 🇺🇬 Uganda's government has announced a ban on live broadcasts of riots, 'unlawful processions,' and other violent incidents.
• 📢 This measure is being implemented ahead of the country's general elections, where President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule.
• 🗣️ The Ministry of Information Communication and Technology stated that such broadcasts are prohibited as they can 'escalate tensions and spread panic.'

Opposition and Crackdown

• 🗳️ The ban comes as authorities have detained hundreds of opposition supporters.
• 🎤 President Museveni, in power since 1986, faces a challenge from pop star turned politician Bobby Wine.
• 💔 In the 2021 election, over 50 people were killed during security crackdowns on Wine's supporters, an event the president denied was election rigging.

Human Rights Concerns

• 🚨 Critics and rights groups have long accused Museveni's government of repression, including torture and intimidation of opponents.
• ✊ Amnesty International reported a 'brutal campaign of repression' against Wine's supporters leading up to the current election.
• 🏃 Researcher Sikola Oniala described instances where police used pepper spray and tear gas at rallies, causing injuries and forcing people to flee.
• 🚫 A ministry official denied rumors of an internet shutdown but confirmed a ban on content described as inciting hate or violence.