On August 26, 2021, the East Africa Network of university Law Clinics (EANULAV), together with the University of Dodoma and ABA ROLI's support, held a conference. The conference was on freedom of expression in East Africa with the theme entitled, “Freedom of Expression in the Public Sphere.”
Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, a Justice in the court of Appeal of Uganda and Vice President of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) delivered the Keynote address. In his address, he discussed the history of freedom of expression, the nature of free speech in the African Traditional Society, the legal basis of freedom of expression at the international, regional and national level. He also discussed select cases decided by the EACJ and their impact on freedom of expression in East Africa. He also highlighted the extent of limitations on freedom of expression. The other discussants represented both Uganda and Tanzania with backgrounds in academia, media and civil society. Areas discussed included online expression, academic expression and investigative journalism.
The topics included:
- Freedom of expression in Universities/academic freedom in East Africa
- Media freedom in East Africa
- Online expression in East Africa
- Media as the 4th Eastate, Is Tanzania Ready?
- Internet shutdowns during general elections as an emerging threat to freedom of expression in Africa
- Gender relations in media houses; a case study of Uganda
The conference was attended by participants from different categories including students, University lecturers, members of the civil society, lawyers in private practice, media fraternity and recent university graduates among others. Graduates from the Makerere University School of Law performed poetry and played the film drama they produced. The art was supported through EANULAC and ABA ROLI.
The event concluded with the lauch of a special journal of the "East African Journal of Peace and Human Rights" published by Makerere University Law School Human Rights and Peace Center. The issue contains five papers published by the EANULAC, including:
- Freedom of expression by deaf and blind persons in Uganda
- Freedom of expression and the gendered media terrain: The case of women journalists in contemporary Uganda
- Freedom of expression in the East African Community: Analyzing the legal and political framework
- Assessing literary studies curricula for freedom of expression responsiveness in Ugandan Universities.
- A critical analysis of the press and Journalist Act of Uganda.
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