Uganda blacks out brawling

Fist fights in parliament on Tuesday have led Uganda to ban live broadcasts of events “inciting the public”, according to a notice from its communications regulator on Wednesday.

Fist fights in parliament have led Uganda to ban live broadcasts of events “inciting the public”, according to a notice from its communications regulator.

The fights broke out in parliament on Tuesday between legislators opposing plans to change laws and extend President Yoweri Museveni’s rule, and those in favour of the plans. The legislators threw punches, hurled chairs and shoved and banged on benches.

Uganda’s two major privately owned TV stations, including a local unit of Kenya’s Nation Media Group, and some radio stations broadcast the episode.

Uganda’s Communications Commission said on Wednesday that radios and television stations should stop live broadcasts of events that “are inciting the public, discriminating, stirring up hatred, promoting a culture of violence ... and are likely to create public insecurity”.

Critics say the action underscores a crackdown in the East African country against anyone questioning a planned constitutional amendment.