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The Minister was especially disheartened that this dangerous content is coming out at a time when school-going children are in their holidays at home and trying to access the internet for academic purposes.
“It grieves us as Parents when images of immorality are trending on the internet, which our young children and the youth are actively using for research and holiday studies,” said the minister in a statement on Friday.
“This is made worse by the fact that some of those depicting immorality are Ugandans who are icons in society and impact on the lives of the youth, who are very curious about the different aspects of life.”
Minister Akello was speaking in light of the recently leaked immoral videos of up to three celebrated Ugandan social media personalities over the past week or so.
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First was TV personality Sheila Gashumba whose nude videos leaked on the internet last week, sparking a frenzy.
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Christine Nampeera whose sex video was leaked online this week
This was followed a couple of days later by another video of digital influencer and DJ Christine Nampeera who was secretly recorded having sexual intercourse with her boyfriend in a public toilet.
A day later, another famous Tiktoker who goes by the social media name Karma Bae also had her privately recorded nude video leaked online.
Minister Akello in the statement this morning, said this kind of content, was “taking a toll on us as Ugandans” and “exposing our young precious lives to many problems including increased infection of HIV/AIDS and other STDs, homosexuality, incest, early pregnancies, abortions, school dropouts, peer pressure, low self-esteem, alcohol and drug abuse as well as pornography addiction.”
Although the Anti-Pornography Act was declared null and void by the Constitutional Court in August 2021, Minister Akello said there are several other laws in place that can be used to go after sources and distributors of pornographic content online,
“The whole of Chapter 14 of Penal Code Act is devoted to offenses against morality…. There is also the Computer Misuse Act, 2011, which makes provision to prevent abuse or misuse of information, including computers,” she said.
“I therefore appeal to you Ugandans to observe the provisions of the law, as well as our National, Religious and Cultural Values.”
The government she said, will continent to work with other stakeholders to restore the dignity and glory of this nation using all available means and platforms.