Imagine needing government approval before staging a school drama, performing a poem, or painting a mural. That’s not fiction—it’s the daily reality under Uganda’s Stage Plays and Public Entertainments Act, first enacted in 1943 during British colonial rule.
This law allows authorities to:
- Ban performances they don’t like, with no clear reason.
- Demand prior submission and censorship of play scripts.
- Revoke or deny permits without explanation.
- Arrest and fine artists for “unauthorized” shows.
- Enter venues and shut down plays at will.
At a time when Uganda’s youth, artists, and activists use theatre and music to spotlight injustice, demand accountability, and share community stories—this law is wielded as a tool of fear and silence.
🎭 In 2024, an artist in Kampala was forced to cancel a community performance about land rights after local officials threatened arrest under this law.
🎤 In Gulu, a youth group was stopped from performing a play on gender violence because the script “had not been approved.”
These aren’t isolated cases. This law chills artistic innovation, civic education, and political dialogue. It violates Article 29(1)(a) of Uganda’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, including artistic, cultural, and media rights. It also breaches Uganda’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which protect the right to free expression and participation in cultural life.