• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Journalists were main victims of online persecution in 2018, Unwanted Witness report

“Majority of these continue to battle with the charges at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Kibuli.” noted Ms Mukasa.

Mulema Najib by Mulema Najib
6 years ago
in News
4 0
ShareTweetSendShare

As internet users around the world commemorate the International Internet Freedom Day today, a new report named ‘The state of Digital Rights in Uganda 2018’ by Unwanted Witness Uganda indicates a growing repression and restriction of human rights online in Uganda in 2018 compared to the previous years.

During its launch in Kampala on Friday, Dorothy Mukasa, the civil society organization’s Chief Executive Officer said the report shows a growing trend in the application of repressive cyber laws and introduction of new ones that are enabling government to continuously claim sovereignty over the internet, restricting internet access, curtailing the enjoyment of freedom of expression and the right to privacy.

“One of the most alarming digital rights violations was the passing of the Excise Duty Amendment Act, 2018 which introduced charges on the use of mobile money services and social media in Uganda. The social media tax has with no doubt negatively impacted on low income Ugandans and their ability to afford access to the internet as a human right,” report conveyed.

The report also reveals that in 2018, journalists constituted the highest percentage (80 per cent) of victims of online persecution and they were victimized while in line of duty.

“Majority of these continue to battle with the charges at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Kibuli.” noted Ms Mukasa.

On the hand, the report indicates that the charge of offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act, 2011 was the most used cyber law in 2018 by law enforcement and public officials to clampdown on critics online including political activists, journalists and human rights defenders.

According to the report, the Computer Misuse Act, 2011, is a big threat to the enjoyment of online freedoms and rights as its being used to control rather than promoting liberty.

The tiding also points out the issue of blanket data collection, retention and exploitation as factors that violate citizens’ rights to privacy.

Ms Mukasa said, “Considering that the world is living in an information age, privacy is crucial for upholding democracy, freedom and security as well as human dignity. This is emphasized by article 27 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution which prohibits interference with any person’s privacy, home, correspondence, communication or other property.”

Basing on the report findings, Ms Mukasa advised government to establish an independent privacy and data protection commission charged with handling public grievances and oversee the enforcement of the privacy and data protection law.

“Uganda Police Force should act more professional by desisting from arresting internet users before conducting meaningful and conclusive investigations. Unprofessional police actions have resulted into violation of suspects’ fundamental rights,” she urged.


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share20Tweet1SendShare

Related Posts

News

NRM youths once again beat NUP with 90% victory in Kassanda district, MPs Kabuye, Nsamba fear for their seats

8th July 2025 at 11:13
News

Reason Over Regulation: President Yoweri Museveni Urges Ugandans to Embrace Science and Reason in Natural Resources Management

8th July 2025 at 09:15
Sudhir Ruparelia is the undisputed king of Kampala
Business

Why Sudhir Ruparelia is Ahead of John Bosco Muwonge in the Class of Billionaires

8th July 2025 at 00:42
Next Post

PHILIP LUSWATA: New Regulations have been developed without any clear honest guidelines.

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1118 shares
    Share 447 Tweet 280
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    45 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 11
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2287 shares
    Share 915 Tweet 572
  • Who is Bosco Muwonge, Uganda’s elusive real estate billionaire?

    30 shares
    Share 12 Tweet 8
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    46 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 12
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

NRM youths once again beat NUP with 90% victory in Kassanda district, MPs Kabuye, Nsamba fear for their seats

8th July 2025 at 11:13

Reason Over Regulation: President Yoweri Museveni Urges Ugandans to Embrace Science and Reason in Natural Resources Management

8th July 2025 at 09:15

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is the undisputed king of Kampala

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

NRM youths once again beat NUP with 90% victory in Kassanda district, MPs Kabuye, Nsamba fear for their seats

8th July 2025 at 11:13

Reason Over Regulation: President Yoweri Museveni Urges Ugandans to Embrace Science and Reason in Natural Resources Management

8th July 2025 at 09:15

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda