Uganda has imposed a ban on the live broadcast of riots, unlawful processions, and violent events ahead of the country’s upcoming election, the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology announced on Monday.
The ministry said that “live broadcast or streaming of riots, unlawful processions, or violent incidents is prohibited, as it can escalate tension and spread panic.” It also warned against sharing content deemed “inciting, hateful, or violent.”
The move comes as tensions rise ahead of the January 15 election, in which President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule. He faces opposition from 43-year-old pop-star-turned-politician Bobi Wine. Authorities have already detained hundreds of opposition supporters in recent weeks.
During Uganda’s last election in 2021, security forces’ crackdowns resulted in over 50 deaths. Museveni, who came to power in 1986 after leading a five-year rebellion, has frequently been accused of using security forces to intimidate and suppress opponents, allegations he denies.
Amnesty International said on Monday that security forces had carried out a “brutal campaign of repression against Wine’s supporters in the run-up to the election, subjecting them to arbitrary arrests, beatings, and torture.”
Requests for comment from government and police representatives were not immediately answered. Meanwhile, opposition figure Kizza Besigye remains imprisoned more than a year after his arrest on treason charges, which he denies.
