Parliament has passed the Anti-Pornography Bill, which seeks to create the offence of pornography which is blamed for sexual crimes against women and children including rape, child molestation and incest.
In the Bill, pornography has been defined as any representation, through publication, exhibition, cinematography, indecent show, information technology or by whatever means, of a person engaged in real or stimulated explicit sexual activities or any representation of the sexual parts of a person for primarily sexual excitement.
The Chairperson of the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Stephen Tashobya (NRM, Kajara), said pornography is prohibited because of the dangers it poses to individuals, families and communities.
“It is therefore necessary to pass a law that specifically deals with the offence of pornography and derives the reform necessary to stamp pornography out of the Ugandan society,” said Hon. Tashobya while presenting the Committee Report on the Bill.
The Committee observed that despite the existence of various legislations prohibiting pornography in Uganda, there is no single law to comprehensively deal with the problem.
The Committee cited the Penal Code Act Cap 120, the Computer Misuse Act, 2011 and the prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009, which prohibit only some aspects of pornography.
The Minister of State for Ethics, Hon. Fr. Simon Lokodo expressed appreciation that the Anti-Pornography Bill had got space on the Order Paper and had been considered and finally approved by Parliament.
The Anti-Pornography Bill, 2009 sets up the Pornography Control Committee, responsible for the implementation of the law and for taking necessary measures to ensure early detection and prohibition of pornography. The Committee will also be charged with the collection and destruction of pornographic materials.