Uganda: Government bans press coverage of protest movement

Uganda's government is banning media coverage of a protest movement against the disputed re-election of the country's long-time president.


Information Minister Jim Muhwezi told reporters on Thursday that a Cabinet meeting ordered a ban on live coverage of a "defiance campaign" by opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who claims he won presidential polls in February.

The information minister said those who defy the ban risk having their licences revoked.

A Ugandan judge last week issued a temporary order stopping the protest events, but that decision has been criticised by rights activists as well as the Uganda Law Society.

Besigye's party has been holding prayer sessions every Tuesday that are widely seen as a new form of anti-government protest.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is due to be sworn in May 12.