Criminal Defamation Continues to Strain Media Freedoms

In East Africa, it is only Kenya that has outlawed criminal defamation. On 6th February 2017, the High Court annulled section 194 of their Penal Code Act which provides for the offence of criminal defamation.

According to a research carried out in 2016 by PEN International Uganda Centre, commonly known as Ugandan PEN, with funding from the United Nations Democratic Fund (UNDF), it was established that most of the libel and defamation cases brought against journalist are by politicians and rich people.

“Politicians and rich people are aware of the damage that defamation charges do to the morale of the journalists, so they press these charges even when they know that they do not have merit,” says Dr. Danson Sylvester Kahyana, the President of Ugandan PEN. He adds that journalists find it very difficult to raise money for legal representation, while politicians and rich men do not have to worry about this, as state attorneys represent them at the cost borne by the tax payer.

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Announcements / News

A Collaboration With Ugandan PEN

From October 2017, Deyu African and PEN Uganda shall collaborate to publish a series of critical articles and creative work from Ugandans whose lives have been touched by the criminal justice sector.

International PEN-Uganda Centre, also known as Ugandan PEN is a branch of PEN International, a not-for-profit international organisation that champions freedom of speech and literature across borders

Life Writing

Daughters Who Become Lovers

The first time he kissed me, it was on the forehead.

Mr C was leaving the city soon after that first meeting, so we arranged to get together again before he left. When he texted to cancel, saying he was unwell, I rushed out to buy a recharge card for my phone. I tried to call, but he didn’t pick up. I became worried about him.

Mr C called the following day, and told me that he was still ill and couldn’t leave his hotel.

‘It’s fine. I just want you to get well,’ I stuttered into the phone.

‘I’m leaving tomorrow. Won’t you come see your sick father?’ My mouth dropped open, I was too stunned to reply. ‘It’s okay if you don’t want to. I see you don’t trust me after all and that’s really sad. I’ll see you when I return. You just take care, okay?’

‘Wait!’ I blurted. ‘I’ll come.’

Shortly after I hung up my phone beeped with a text message bearing the address of his hotel.

Profiles

Jennifer Chinenye Emelife

Jennifer Chinenye Emelife writes fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
In 2016, she participated in the Writivism Creative Nonfiction
Workshop in Accra, and the Short Story Day Africa Flow Workshop in
Lagos.

Life Writing

My Timeline Of Emotional Pain

“You really ought to be over this by now”, said one of my best friends.

“Really, you should learn to forgive and forget,” another exasperated member of my inner circle told me. “Make a decision and deal with it.”

Human beings have different emotional thresholds. Some people can just shrug while others take it in through their noses and ears till it permeates every aspect of their life. People have been known to end their lives over problems that you, their very good friend, think are trivial.

Lindsey Kukunda

Lindsey Kukunda is a feminist writer and human rights defender. She is also the founding Director at Not Your Body, where she campaigns on a wide range of issues such as women’s human rights, and digital safety.

I AM BEAUTIFUL TOO!

I was approached by trader on the street the other day. She wanted to sell me a miracle product that would change my life forever. The cream she had could lighten my skin in just 7–10 days. “I like like my skin exactly as it is,” I told her. She looked at me like I had just told her I enjoyed going to work without my clothes on at times. Being the diligent saleswoman she was, she made all sorts of promises. Chinese skin, being one of them. In Zimbabwe, this has become a sought after commodity.

I am not Chinese. I am a black woman. So what’s wrong with that?, I asked myself later. I was born with dark skin. Is that supposed to be a disease? Why do I need miracle cure that will make me a yellow bone?

Karen Mukwasi

Karen Mukwasi is the projects coordinator for Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe and is currently studying with the University of South Africa. She is a fellow of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Young Leaders program. Karen believes in the power of written work and is committed to writing for social justice.

The Burden of Silence

Mike’s phone starts to ring. He picks the call.

Hello? Yeah, he says. The way he lowers his voice, you no longer have any doubt as to who it is at the other end. Mike quickly apologizes for not calling as promised. He blames his tight schedule and says he is in a meeting now —an important meeting with some contractors, so he has to hurry.

—Tell the kids daddy loves them, he says between pauses. Yes I love you too. Bye. He ends the call and heaves a deep sigh. Neither of you exchange a word in the false silence which prevails. You are feeling unnerved, but you don’t have the energy to do anything.

Writivism 2016 Partnership

Congratulations to all those who made the final list.

We shall feature the following authors in the coming weeks:

Billy Adwoa McTernan
Karen Mukwasi
Ndi Charles
Wanjiku Mungai

Happy New Year

2015 was exceptional as we saw new growth in our team structure. We also had several unique publications from new contributors. Still, we’re on the look out for exciting new ventures into art writing, pop culture, comics, animation and photography. As a reflection on our civilization, scholarly articles and critical essays shall be given special focus in the new year.

The Bishop is Coming

Mainstream narratives omit to tell us that Bishop Hannington had been warned by his fellow missionaries who were already settled in Uganda. Minister Alexander MacKay, a Scottish Presbyterian missionary, sent canoes on Lake Nalubaale to Kavirondo to meet him, and to warn him that his life would be in danger, should he insist on taking the eastern route from Busoga. But Hannington proceeded through Busoga anyway, disregarding the warning.

Nakisanze Segawa

Nakisanze Segawa is a Uganda writer and Luganda performance poet.

Silent Voices: The Return of Serious Theatre

By Sophie Alal

“It is one of those very good plays that have taken a very long time to be shown in the National Theatre,” said Prof Dan Kisense. “We had balance in acting, stage setting, sound and lighting effects, and above all, the story.”

“It was touching on the psychology and reality of our times regarding Northern Uganda. The play goes through many dimensions. There are pleasant things that we don’t talk about, and that is a silent voice. There are bad things we don’t want to hear about, and that is a silent voice.”

My Volmoed Journey

By Tendai Mwanaka

I really wanted to get into the waterfall or at the very least get close enough to touch it. When I got near it, I felt like I was a part of it. Below was a deep green pool. I was not sure how deep, but anything that appeared too deep has always scared me. So I could not begin to imagine what might lie inside. I imagined water animals that I’m not fond of: snakes, mermaids, and crocodiles. But, I was mostly scared of the Njuzu that day, so we enjoyed it from the outside. It’s not a joke, I am afraid of these aquatic half human creatures. In my culture and country, these creatures are associated with supernatural forces, for instance it is believed the most potent traditional healers is of the Njuzu calling. It is said that they were often people who had been abducted by a Njuzu and secreted deep inside caves, in the river’s pools, where they would be taught the trade. So growing up, we were always afraid of river pools that were said to have Njuzu in them. Afraid we might be abducted by these supernatural creatures. It is also believed that should people mourn for you after your abduction, these creatures would kill you. Thus you can understand my fear of these creatures at that instance.