Women face arrest for wearing miniskirts in Uganda in new laws

Women in Uganda who go out wearing mini-skirts could face jail or a heavy fine under draconian new anti-pornography laws. The legislation would also see television dramas and films banned if it is passed by parliament.
The Anti-Pornography Bill 2011 proposes that those found guilty of abetting pornography be fined up to 10 million Ugandan shillings (£2,500) or jailed for up to 10 years, or both.

Simon Lokodo, Uganda's ethics and integrity minister, who proposed the  Bill, said: 'Any attire which exposes intimate parts of the human body, especially areas that are of erotic function, are outlawed. Anything above the knee is outlawed. If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her.'

The bill, which is backed by Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhindi, would also see many films and TV dramas banned from the airwaves and internet use monitored.

Mr Lokodo, a former Catholic priest defrocked by the Vatican for his involvement in politics, said that would mean that celebrities such as Beyoncé and Madonna would be banned from Ugandan television.

'Television should not broadcast a sexy person,' he said.

He added: 'On the internet, we're going to put a monitoring system so we know who has watched which website and we know who has watched pornographic material.'

Mr Lokodo said the Bill was needed to protect women and children against exploitation and curb increasing immorality.

If passed, the proposed law would mark a return to the era of dictator Idi Amin, who banned short skirts.

Source: Dailymail.uk