Victory for Free Speech: Ugandan Constitutional Court Strikes Down Controversial Section 25 of Computer Misuse Act
Kampala, Uganda – In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court of Uganda has unanimously declared Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act, 2011 to be unconstitutional, on the grounds that it is vague, overly broad, and ambiguous. The enforcement of this section, which dealt with offensive communication, has been stopped with immediate effect.
As a Member of Parliament and President General of the Democratic Party, I am thrilled with this outcome and the reaffirmation of the importance of free speech in our country. From the start, I have been a vocal critic of Section 25, arguing that it would have a chilling effect on free expression and could be used to stifle dissent.
This ruling is a victory for all Ugandans who value their constitutional rights and the principle of free speech. The Constitutional Court has shown that it will not tolerate laws that are ambiguous and overly broad, and that threaten the fundamental rights of citizens.
As we move forward, I call on the government to respect this ruling and to work with all stakeholders to create new legislation that balances the need to protect citizens from offensive communication while also protecting our right to free expression.
I also call on private sector organizations to take responsibility and put in place measures to mitigate the spread of offensive content on their platforms and websites. Together, we can ensure that the internet remains a place where ideas can be freely exchanged and where people can express themselves without fear of censorship or repression.”
