Cabinet sitting yesterday Wednesday approved a 9 member committee to work with the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity as per the Anti-Pornography Act, in combating pornography production and consumption in the country.
The Pornography Control Committee chaired by Dr Annette Kezaabu Kasimbazi was announced on Thursday by information Minister Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi while addressing press in Kampala.
Notable on the committee is Dr. Martin Ssempa the senior pastor of the Makerere Community Church, an outspoken adversary of immorality and homosexuality.
The other members are Dalton Opwonya, Sheik Muhammad Ali Wasswa, Joan Komugisha, Gaston Byamugisha, Hasfa Kabagonja, Victoria Sentamu and Dr Fred Nyakori.
Among its many tasks according to Minister Muhwezi, the committee is to work with the Ethics Ministry to ensure early detection and prevention of pornography.
It will also ensure that perpetrators of pornography are apprehended and prosecuted; and also collect and destroy pornographic objects and materials with the assistance of the police.
“As you may be aware, pornography is a major challenge in Uganda society today. Its increasing consumption is fast eroding our cherished decent African moral fabric, particularly among young people,” said Muhwezi.
The development comes after the Ethics and Integrity Minister Fr. Simon Lokodo announced plans to procure a pornography detecting software at a cost of Ugshs 2.6Billion.
The detector is intended to be installed on cell phones, television sets as well as computers.
Fr. Lokodo while tabling the proposal before the Parliamentary Committee last week said that the move is to aid in the enforcement of the 2014 Anti-Pornography Act.
“We want telecom companies to have ‘software filters’ which can track and block public access to ‘pornographic material’. In countries like China, Korea and Rwanda, this software is successful,” the Minister told the Committee.