Democracy shmocracy (cont'd)
Just after I painted a slightly rosy picture of press freedom in Uganda, news comes out that the government is setting up a special “Media crackdown” taskforce. And insiders from the Independent and the Daily Monitor have told me that despite their critical tone, much is often left unsaid.
I also somewhat misguidedly mentioned that Museveni had brought “stability” to Uganda. Relatively speaking – compared to the pre-Museveni era – this is undoubtedly true (as it is with all dictators). But I forgot, of course, to mention the conflict in the North. Technically there is still an ongoing “war” in Uganda, although it has calmed significantly in the past few years. But strangely, if you talk to locals in Kampala, the troubles in the North are rarely even mentioned. It’s as if it isn’t even part of the country. News about the momentous ongoing peacetalks – which have recently stalled, perhaps permanently – make page 4 and beyond of the local newspapers, while the same story might be featured on the BBC homepage. More on the North later, particularly after I visit in a month or so.
From the glass-half-full department, however, comes a report that the Constitutional Court has boldly struck down a law requiring that public protests be pre-authorized by the government. The language of the judgment seems awfully, well, Canadian. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.
I also somewhat misguidedly mentioned that Museveni had brought “stability” to Uganda. Relatively speaking – compared to the pre-Museveni era – this is undoubtedly true (as it is with all dictators). But I forgot, of course, to mention the conflict in the North. Technically there is still an ongoing “war” in Uganda, although it has calmed significantly in the past few years. But strangely, if you talk to locals in Kampala, the troubles in the North are rarely even mentioned. It’s as if it isn’t even part of the country. News about the momentous ongoing peacetalks – which have recently stalled, perhaps permanently – make page 4 and beyond of the local newspapers, while the same story might be featured on the BBC homepage. More on the North later, particularly after I visit in a month or so.
From the glass-half-full department, however, comes a report that the Constitutional Court has boldly struck down a law requiring that public protests be pre-authorized by the government. The language of the judgment seems awfully, well, Canadian. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.
posted by Sam at 2:53 PM
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