Journal Launch Event on COVID-19 And Freedom Of Expression and Assembly In Africa

Left to right: Ms. Catherine Anite, Mr. Gawaya Tegulle, Professor Federick Jjuko, and Professor John Jean Barya.

In times of crisis governments are allowed, and often required, to take more restrictive measures than they would in normal times. However, many governments in Africa seem to have used the COVID-19 outbreak as an opportunity to further entrench repressive measures, such as increased surveillance, restrictions on free expression and information, and limits on public participation. This presented a timely opportunity to produce a critical assessment on the state of Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Access to Information in the East African Region. It is against this background that the American Bar Association, Rule of Law Initiative in partnership with the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC) of the School of Law, Makerere University issued a special journal highlight recent trends, practices and emerging issues in the region impacting on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms, in particular the impact of Covid-19 on freedom of expression, assembly. The 10 articles from Uganda Tanzania, Southern Africa, Mauritius focused on how state sponsored measures to respond to Covid-19, the world’s current primary menace, has introduced new limits on Freedom of Expression, Assembly. The Special Issue Journal was officially launched by the Chief Justice of Uganda, Honorable Justice Alphonse Owinyi Dollo launched on Tuesday, December 8 at Mestil. The Honorable Chief Justice in his keynote address mentioned the importance of a participatory process in tackling COVID-19 thus urged the Government to take lead and promote dialogue across leadership, human rights and academia. He hoped that the journal would receive the attention of a wide readership to enable the people understand the issues troubling the nation in light of the pandemic.

The launch was attended by the President of the Uganda Law Society, Representatives from the Justice Law and Order Sector; the US Mission, members of academia, CSOs, media students also featured a key panel discussion that focused on the key issues raised by the articles in the journal. Panel members included Ms. Catherine Anite, the Executive Director of Freedom of Expression Hub, Prof. Fredrick Jjuuko and Prof. John Jean Barya of the School of Law, Makerere University who discussed key emerging issues addressed in the articles. Some of the articles included: Disinfodemic and Freedom of Expression During the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Legislative trends in Southern Africa; Use of Music as a Form of Artistic Freedom of Expression in Uganda; The Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Rights of Women in Africa; Should Government Twitter Handles be Freely Accessible? Reflections on the Right of Access to Information in the USA and Uganda; Tweet, Block or Tolerate: A Critical Analysis of the High Court Decision in Seguya Hillary Innocent Taylor V Attorney General of Uganda; Enforced Disappearance as a Means of Curtailing Freedom of Expression: The Case of Human Rights Defenders in Tanzania.

On “fake news” Ms. Anite noted that the laws restricting freedom of expression must be so precise that everyone is aware of the consequences of their utterances. She added that the Government should desist from over regulating fake news relating to Covid-19. She also labored to explain the difference between fake news and disinformation.

Professor Frederick Jjuuko highlighted the fact that the Executive has taken over and overshadowed the other arms of government while Professor Jean John Barya indicated that many states in Africa had decided to use COVID-19 as an oppressive tool to suppress people’s freedom of expression and right to assemble particularly opposition in the electoral period.

The high-level event was closed by Dr. Umar Kakumba, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Makerere University, who applauded the Chief Justice for cementing the relationship between the University School of Law and Judiciary. He also hoped that the information in the journal would be disseminated and circulated more widely to engage more people in discussions that would inform a wider public, the human rights advocates and public policy.