The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Internet abuse
Ruth Ssekindi, Director Monitoring and Inspections at the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) said although the Internet can be a powerful democratisation tool, it can facilitate real time abuse of fundamental rights and freedoms.
But she said limitations of digital rights should be for a short time in respect to address a challenge, threat and these limitations should be reasonable, acceptable and proportional to the challenge other than violations of digital rights.
She was explaining how growth in Internet usage has in equal measures attracted interest from the state to control monitor users’ Internet activities using sophisticated technology and legal restrictions to control what citizens do or say online justifying the repression as necessary for public order, morality, or security.
According to the report, to overcome factors hindering Ugandans from enjoying their digital rights, the government through the Human Rights Commission and ministry of justice should promote universal access to legal aid for all citizens regarding digital rights which will ensure a just and fair due process.
The government through relevant arms like Parliament, ministries and local governments should translate the laws and regulation into simple guidelines for the public to read and understand. This is an empowerment tool for citizens to claim their digital rights.
The report also calls on the Ministry of Education to integrate digital education into the curriculum of computer literacy at various levels of education as a means of promoting responsible use of the internet and associated technologies.
Abdul-Salam Waiswa, the head of the Legal Department of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), while reacting to the report findings and recommendations explained the issue of costs of internet and said UCC has come up with interventions to ensure they are low.
“Unlike other rights where people just speak, for digital rights, one must pay since there is somebody who is making it possible for you to communicate,” he said.
On the shutting down the internet during elections, Waiswa said that was done in for security purposes.
“Nobody is proud that internet was shut down, and I think right from the highest level even his Excellency, I think he apologised to the nation, but it was done to secure the stability and security of our nation because at the end of the day only people who breathing can enjoy digital rights,” he said.
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