Ugandan Ruling Shows Difficulty in Establishing Freedom of Information in Sub-Saharan Africa

A Ugandan judge has ruled that reporters from Uganda's leading independent newspaper had not proved there was public benefit of disclosing certified copies of oil exploitation agreements. The journalists, along with the Open Society Institute's East Africa Initiative and Human Rights Network Uganda say they are considering an appeal of the ruling.

The journalists had argued the information was of interest to Ugandans seeking to hold the government and its partners accountable for multinational oil deals.

The ruling comes ahead of the African Regional Conference on the Right of Access to Information, an event featuring media leaders, press freedom advocates, officials, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

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