Karamong people of Uganda: The Law might interprete their dressing as as pornogphapic
Comments
Kato
Mivule
7
YEARS in Jail for Mini-Skirts and watching Porn...
Please,
please, please, let someone help stop the "Taliban-nization" of poor
Ugandans! There are other bigger issues to address, among them, corruption and
theft of public funds...
Kizito
Michael George
Kudos
Bro.Kato, this is real talibanisation of Uganda. And even if this law if
passed it will be impossible to enforce it with out serious repercussions. Will
they round up all the miniskirted university girls, female MPs, girls in pastor
kayanja’s church, wives of Male MPs, University professors etc etc. More so, is
Museveni so naïve to risk losing all the marks he has scored internationally on
the gender empowerment in Uganda.
They are more burning issues to handle than incarcerating skimpy dressed ladies
.
Desire Luzinda a music celebrity in Uganda and model for many young girls
Government tables Bill to outlaw miniskirts
By YASIIN MUGERWA
Posted Friday, April 5 2013 at 01:00
Posted Friday, April 5 2013 at 01:00
In Summary
The Bill defines pornography as any cultural
practice, form of behaviour or form of communication or speech or information
or literature or publication in whole or publication in part or news storyWearing of miniskirts could soon land one in jail or attract heavy fines if Parliament approves a new piece of legislation that seeks to further clarify the offence of pornography in Uganda’s laws.
The government is riding on its view that pornography has become such an “insidious social problem” to get the Bill through Parliament.
It also argues that because there has been an “increase in pornographic materials in the Ugandan mass media and nude dancing in the entertainment world”, there is need to establish a legal framework to regulate such vices.”
In its current form, it is proposed that those found guilty of abetting pornography face a fine of Shs10 million under the draft law titled: The Anti-Pornography Bill, 2011 or a jail stint not exceeding 10 years, or both.
But the draft law ran into early turbulence in the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee yesterday after some members expressed concerns about its implications for freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.
MPs in the committee also criticised the government’s attempts to legislate for sex, a course of action which could see it labelling some age-old cultural practices as pornographic.
Traditional Dancers from Uganda
The Bill defines pornography as any cultural practice, form of behaviour or form of communication or speech or information or literature or publication in whole or publication in part or news story or entertainment or stage play or broadcast or music or dance or art or graphic or picture or photography or video recording or leisure activity or show or exhibition.
It also prohibits any combination of the preceding that depicts unclothed or under clothed parts of the human body such as breasts, thighs, buttocks and genitalia, a person engaged in explicit sexual activities or conduct; erotic behaviour intended to cause sexual excitement and any indecent act or behaviour tending to corrupt morals.
Lawmakers said the Bill’s definition of pornography was too broad and that it went against Uganda’s tradition of being tolerant of cultural diversity.
Ethics Minister Simon Lokodo, who presented the proposed law backed by Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi, said the Bill was needed to protect women and children against exploitation and curb the increasing immorality.
Swazi reed dance
“The need to put in place a law that prohibits pornography is necessitated by the dangers it poses to moral fabric of the society,” Rev Lokodo said, adding that the right to entertainment and the right to broadcast or publish any material does not include the right to engage in pornographic matters or obscene publication as they tend to corrupt public morals.
The minister speaks about “serious defects” in existing laws which make it imperative for new laws to stamp out pornography.
“The right to entertainment and the right to broadcast or publish any material does not include the right to engage or broadcast pornographic matters or obscene publication in so far as they tend to offend or corrupt public morals,” he states in the Bill.
The minister said one of the dangers of pornography is that it fuels sexual crimes against women and children, including rape and child molestation.
While the Bill seeks to outlaw indecent dressing among other social behaviours deemed pornographic under the legal parameters of the Bill, the lawmakers said the lack of definition for what constitutes “decent dressing” makes the Bill awkward and asked the government to stop curtailing freedoms in the country which could scare away tourists.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/ilive/2011/09/12/zulu-maidens-do-the-reed-dance-ilive#12
Responding to the members who expressed fears that the Bill might inhibit the sexual behaviours of romantic spouses or couples, the minister said if the Bill is passed into law, pornography will not include “any act or behaviour between spouses or couples performed in fulfillment of their conjugal rights and responsibilities, where such matters are strictly private”.
Also pardoned in the Bill are the teaching aides and other medical or scientific apparatus approved by the minister responsible for education or health, for appropriate educational purposes in schools, institutions, health centres or the public.
While some committee members urged that Section 166 of the Penal Code Act, Cap.120 already outlaws pornography, the minister said the Penal Code only caters for trafficking in obscene publication yet the issue of pornography transcends publication.
Members, however, flatly rejected the minister’s proposal to establish an Anti-Pornography Committee, observing that the police would enforce the law.
Also read:
Ugandan Woman thrown out of Lubaga catholic cathedral for putting on a skimpy dress: Mean while ethics and integrity minister Rev.Fr.Simon Lokodo to table Anti-pornography bill that will outlaw miniskirts
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2013/01/ugandan-woman-thrown-out-of-lubaga.html
Uganda is considering
extraordinary measures against women's rights that would lead to arrests for
those wearing skirts above the knee in public.
The proposed law would mark a return to the era of dictator Idi Amin, who banned short skirts by decree. Many Ugandans are opposed to the idea and it has spawned a Twitter hashtag, #SaveMiniSkirt.
The government-backed bill would also see many films and TV dramas banned and personal internet use closely monitored by officials.
Simon Lokodo, Uganda's ethics and integrity minister, defended the plans. "It's outlawing any indecent dressing including miniskirts," he said.
"Any attire which exposes intimate parts of the human body, especially areas that are of erotic function, are outlawed. Anything above the knee is outlawed. If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her."
Lokodo, a former Catholic priest, suggested that victims of sexual violence invited trouble. "One can wear what one wants, but please do not be provocative," he said. "We know people who are indecently dressed: they do it provocatively and sometimes they are attacked. An onlooker is moved to attack her and we want to avoid those areas. He is a criminal but he was also provoked and enticed." Asked if men would be banned from wearing shorts, the minister replied: "Men are normally not the object of attraction; they are the ones who are provoked. They can go bare-chested on the beach, but would you allow your daughter to go bare-chested?"
The anti-pornography bill contends that there has been an "increase in pornographic materials in the Ugandan mass media and nude dancing in the entertainment world". It proposes that anyone found guilty of abetting pornography faces a 10m shillings (£2,515) fine or a maximum of 10 years in jail, or both.
The likes of Beyoncé and Madonna will be banned from television, Lokodo added. "We are saying anything that exposes private parts of the human body is pornography and anything obscene will be outlawed. Television should not broadcast a sexy person. "Certain intimate parts of the body cannot be opened except for a spouse in a private place.
"A lot of photos, television, films will be outlawed. Even on the internet, we're going to put a monitoring system so we know who has watched which website and we know who has watched pornographic material."
Lokodo expressed confidence that the bill would be passed. But according to Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper, it has run into difficulty in the parliamentary committee stage after some members expressed concern about its implications for constitutional freedoms. MPs also warned that some traditional cultural practices could be labelled as pornographic, the paper added.
Lokodo has previously courted controversy by announcing a ban on 38 non-governmental organisations he accused of undermining the national culture by promoting homosexuality. Parliament is still pondering a bill that would impose harsher penalties for gay people.
Sam Akaki, international envoy of Uganda's opposition Forum for Democratic Change, said: "This law will create an apartheid system by stealth. Whereas the former apartheid system in South Africa discriminated [against] people on the basis or race, this one will discriminate people on the basis of gender. Any law that discriminates people in any way is a bad law.
"If Lokodo or anyone in Uganda is serious about fighting immorality, they should fight corruption."
Beyoncé, centre, with Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, would be banned from TV in Uganda if bill came in. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Uganda proposes ban on miniskirts in move against women's rights
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/05/uganda-ban-miniskirts-womens-right
Anti-pornography bill would outlaw 'provocative'
clothing on women, censor film and TV and restrict personal internet use
The proposed law would mark a return to the era of dictator Idi Amin, who banned short skirts by decree. Many Ugandans are opposed to the idea and it has spawned a Twitter hashtag, #SaveMiniSkirt.
The government-backed bill would also see many films and TV dramas banned and personal internet use closely monitored by officials.
Simon Lokodo, Uganda's ethics and integrity minister, defended the plans. "It's outlawing any indecent dressing including miniskirts," he said.
"Any attire which exposes intimate parts of the human body, especially areas that are of erotic function, are outlawed. Anything above the knee is outlawed. If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her."
Lokodo, a former Catholic priest, suggested that victims of sexual violence invited trouble. "One can wear what one wants, but please do not be provocative," he said. "We know people who are indecently dressed: they do it provocatively and sometimes they are attacked. An onlooker is moved to attack her and we want to avoid those areas. He is a criminal but he was also provoked and enticed." Asked if men would be banned from wearing shorts, the minister replied: "Men are normally not the object of attraction; they are the ones who are provoked. They can go bare-chested on the beach, but would you allow your daughter to go bare-chested?"
The anti-pornography bill contends that there has been an "increase in pornographic materials in the Ugandan mass media and nude dancing in the entertainment world". It proposes that anyone found guilty of abetting pornography faces a 10m shillings (£2,515) fine or a maximum of 10 years in jail, or both.
The likes of Beyoncé and Madonna will be banned from television, Lokodo added. "We are saying anything that exposes private parts of the human body is pornography and anything obscene will be outlawed. Television should not broadcast a sexy person. "Certain intimate parts of the body cannot be opened except for a spouse in a private place.
"A lot of photos, television, films will be outlawed. Even on the internet, we're going to put a monitoring system so we know who has watched which website and we know who has watched pornographic material."
Lokodo expressed confidence that the bill would be passed. But according to Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper, it has run into difficulty in the parliamentary committee stage after some members expressed concern about its implications for constitutional freedoms. MPs also warned that some traditional cultural practices could be labelled as pornographic, the paper added.
Lokodo has previously courted controversy by announcing a ban on 38 non-governmental organisations he accused of undermining the national culture by promoting homosexuality. Parliament is still pondering a bill that would impose harsher penalties for gay people.
Sam Akaki, international envoy of Uganda's opposition Forum for Democratic Change, said: "This law will create an apartheid system by stealth. Whereas the former apartheid system in South Africa discriminated [against] people on the basis or race, this one will discriminate people on the basis of gender. Any law that discriminates people in any way is a bad law.
"If Lokodo or anyone in Uganda is serious about fighting immorality, they should fight corruption."
