The Ugandan Gov’t Setting Up “Social Media Monitoring Unit”

The Ugandan government has unveiled plans to put in place a special unit of security officers to keep a close eye on social media platforms.

“Social Media Monitoring Unit” in the making

Security Minister Muruli Mukasa on Thursday said government will no longer tolerate individuals who misuse use Facebook, Twitter and other social networks to destroy the government’s reputation.

“We are in the process of setting up a Social Media Monitoring Unit to weed out those who use it to damage the government and people’s reputations. Offences committed on social media will have to be penalized,” said Muruli.

The Minister was speaking at the
UCC Annual Broadcaster's Conference at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala.

Muruli’s statement is evidence that government’s censorship strategies are in advanced stages.

The move is likely to intimidate Ugandans from criticizing government on the social platforms that have since attracted millions of subscribers.

Sources say the Ministry of ICT last December dispatched a team of information technology experts to Israel for several weeks of training in detecting cyber crime.

The group was led by State Minister Nyombi Tembo.

Ugandans have received the news with mixed reactions. Facebook users castigated the move, saying it would violate their freedoms of free speech.




Source: Chimp reports