A concerned citizen has dragged the Government to court over the continued shutdown of Facebook.
In a suit lodged at the Civil Division of the High Court last week, Shafic Mbira seeks a declaration that citizens have a right to access Facebook, which has been blocked by Government without any justification.
Since the January 14 general elections, only people using virtual private networks (VPN) can access Facebook.
The Attorney General and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) are listed as respondents in the case.
Mbira says UCC has powers to regulate, but not to interfere with the right and freedom of expression.
Court documents indicate that on January 14, the President ordered blocking of Facebook following that several people were abusing the social media platform.
According to court documents, the shutdown of Facebook is hurting him and other Ugandans who rely on social media for marketing since he does not have resources to use television and radio stations.
Mbira adds that doing business on Facebook has become difficult since the target market cannot access Facebook.
“Some Ugandans and government bodies have opted to use virtual Private Next Work (VPN) to access Facebook, which is a vital communication platform,” he contends.
Mbira further states that the continued closure of Facebook is unjustified and infringe on the right to speech and expression, as well as undermines the constitutional mandate of all state agencies or organs to protect and uphold all fundamental human rights and freedoms.
In his affidavit, Mbira says in February, this year, the Government restored some social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter and the former information minister, Judith Nabakooba, apologised to the citizens for the inconveniences caused by their act of shutdown.
“At the same time, I received a message from MTN informing me that social media websites had been restored, except Facebook,” he said.
Mbira says the action by the Government to ban Facebook is inhuman and illegal and prohibited in a free and democratic society, as well as the Constitution.
