The Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance wants the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill 2022 withdrawn.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr Aminah Zawedde said that her ministry is in the process of bringing a holistic and encompassing bill that will address gaps in the Acts governing the ICT sector including the current Computer Misuse Act 2011.

“We recommend that we halt the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and we await the Information and Communications Bill, 2022 that will incorporate this bill as well,” Zawedde said on Tuesday, 16 August 2022 while meeting MPs on the Committee on ICT.

On 17 July 17 2022, Muhammad Nsereko (Indep., Kampala Central) moved a private member’s bill intended to curtail cyber bullying and fake news.

Once implemented, the law is envisaged to limit dissemination of unauthorized digital content and information while fostering online protection for the general populace.

Dr. Zawedde said that whereas Cabinet advised that the ministry works with the mover of the bill, Nsereko, it is prudent that the bill is withdrawn to accommodate a more comprehensive bill that will be tabled by the Minister of ICT by end of December 2022.

“We are awaiting clearance from the cabinet to proceed with the drafting of the bill. We realized that we currently have overlaps and decided to come up with the Information and Communications Bill, 2022 to be the encompassing bill for the sector,” Dr Zawedde said.

According to Zawedde, the Information and Communications Bill, 2022 will provide for regulation and management of media and content that will cure the proposals raised in Nsereko’s bill.

“This Bill once approved will, among others, harmonize and strengthen regulatory provisions in the existing laws and includes repeal of the Press and Journalism Act Cap. 105, the Stage Plays and Public Entertainment Act Cap. 49 and as well amend, the Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019,” she said.

Nsereko’s bill among others seeks to amend section 22 and 23 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 to prohibit the sharing of any information relating to a child without authorization from a parent or guardian and to prohibit the sending or sharing of information that promotes hate speech respectively.

According to Dr. Zawedde, the proposals should be deleted from the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill 2022 because the proposed provisions in section 22 are already provided for under the Anti-Pornography Act, while proposed provisions in section 23 are already provided for under the Penal Code Act.

State Minister for ICT, Joyce Ssebugwawo said government is committed to continue digitizing government communications and administrative processes but can only do so with effective regulatory frameworks for online content management in place.

The Committee chairperson, Moses Magogo said that the ministry’s proposal to call for withdrawal of the Computer Misuse Bill will not stop the committee from processing the bill.

“As a committee, we shall continue with our discussion and meeting other stakeholders. Allow us to internalize it and we shall definitely include the ministry’s opinion in the recommendation to Parliament,” Magogo said.

Mawogola South MP, Gorett Namugga asked the Ministry of ICT to share with Parliament their mid-term digital transformation plans to avoid duplication of bills from private members.

Stories Continues after ad

MPs on the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) have questioned salary disparities at Uganda Airlines.

According to the Chairman of COSASE Joel Ssenyonyi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uganda Airline earns Shs87 million compared to Shs73 million earned by the Chief Financial Officer. The Manager Finance earns Shs58 million, Director Maintenance Shs80 million. Others; the Manager IT Shs36 million, Human Resource Shs43 million, Manager Cargo Shs14 million, and Quality Assistant Shs43 million.

The committee questioned why some Pilots get Shs60 million and others Shs50 million. Some Cabin Crew members earn Shs4 million, while others earn Shs2 million. The CEO Uganda Airlines said that Airbus has a different pay structure while the CRJ Bombardier also has a different one.

“We are not against the salary of the Pilots, but asked Uganda Airline officials to explain why the Airlines which is making loses (Shs160bn) a year is paying managers and directors exorbitantly with the CEO earning Shs87 million,” Ssenyonyi said.

The CEO of Uganda Airlines Jennifer Bamuturaki said that they are currently reviewing these salaries.

The committee quizzed the new CEO Uganda Airlines Jennifer Bamuturaki on how she got appointed as Aide to the acting CEO and yet she had no appointment letter and was not being paid a salary. The committee also questioned how she rose from Aide to CEO.

Jennifer Bamuturaki however said she was not among the 40 Ugandans who applied for the job. “On the day I was going to apply, that is when I was appointed,” she said this while appearing before COSASE.

Herbert Kamuntu, board member of Uganda Airlines said when Uganda Airlines advertised for the position of CEO, at least 40 Ugandans applied. However, following a presidential directive to appoint Jennifer Bamuturaki, the whole process was halted.

In 2018, Uganda mooted an idea to revive its airline and hence ordered four Bombardier CRJ900 regional Aircrafts. In 2020, the government of Uganda received four Bombardier CRJ900 regional Aircrafts that were ordered by Uganda National Airlines Company in July 2018 and two airbuses which were delivered in 2020 and 2021.

Following the arrival of airbuses, the country launched its long-range operations with non-stop intercontinental flights to the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Established in May 1976, Uganda Airlines, started operations in 1977 and was liquidated in May 2001 after efforts to privatize the company failed due to massive debts it had incurred.

Uganda Airlines is competing with Africa’s best such as South Africa Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, Rwandair and others on the continent, not forgetting International ones such as Emirates Airways, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airways among others that land at Entebbe International Airport.

Stories Continues after ad

Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court has committed five Directors of Nile Treasure Gate Company Limited to High court for trial.

The five directors of labour export agency, Nile Treasure Gate Company Limited are accused of trafficking a Ugandan National, Judith Nakintu. The five directors include; Kato Abubaker Suleiman, Muhammad Mariam, Sulamah Muhammed, Ali Hassan, Jennifer Nalunga Milly.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Elias Kakooza, the five were committed to high court after prosecution led by Eunice Mbaine told court that they have finalized the investigations into the matter. Mbaine thereafter submitted committal papers signed by Rachael Bikhole, the assistant director of public prosecutions on behalf of the DPP showing part of the evidence they are going to rely on to prosecute the accused persons.

The directors face three counts of Aggravated trafficking in persons contrary to section 3 (1) (a), 4 (I) of the prevention of trafficking in persons Act, 2009.

Prosecution avers that the five and others at large between December 2019 and October 2021, between Kampala district, Uganda and Saudi Arabia, organized, facilitated or made preparations for sending to, receiving or confining Nakintu Judith by means of fraud or deceit or abuse of power of position of vulnerability for purpose of removal of body parts or organs

Prosecution says that the victim suffered mutilation or a life threatening illness and the offense was committed by a syndicate.

The five allegedly conspired and unlawfully removed the right kidney of Edith Nakintu, a lady they had taken for labor in Saudi Arabia. The five have been on remand since February this year.

Judith Nakintu left Uganda to work as a maid in Saudi Arabia on 12/12/2019 via recruitment agency Nile Treasure Gate Co Ltd. She was lured to hospital under the guise of testing for Covid-19 but she underwent involuntary surgery that led to her disability.

Contrary to the report from Mulago Hospital, a private Medical Report showed that Nakintu’s right kidney is missing.

Migrant Workers’ Voice raised concerns about how Ugandans are being exploited by Middle East traffickers who trade in body parts.

Recently, a dismembered body of Milly Namazzi (Age 26) was returned to Uganda on Jan 17 with her private parts removed. She had been subjected to multiple severe beatings. Milly had gone to Saudi Arabia to work as a maid via Dreams Connect Ltd and was killed in Egypt on December 5, 2022.

Stories Continues after ad