PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE ON GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCUAL DEVELOPMENTThe Committee was chaired by Hon Rwakajara Alinaitwe and still handling the Petition on child sacrifice. The Witnesses before the Committee were the Uganda Communications Commission and the Uganda NeDaggala Lyaffe organization. Both groups were invited to be present for each others presentations so that each could better understand the others opinion.UGANDA COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONThe representatives of Uganda Communications Commission made a presentation to the Committee regarding the policies in place to limit or restrict the communication of undesired messages related to witchcraft through the media. UCC confirmed that there is a system in place to monitor the programmers that are aired. It admitted that there have been cases where radio stations have aired programmes on witchcraft and there were complaints after which complaints were made the appropriate actions were taken. Action could only be taken where the broadcast message contravened the stipulations in Section 2 of the Witchcraft Act. Hon Kafeero asked for the nature of the content that would contradict the said Section 2 however UCC conceded that the Section is vague in defining clearly what Witchcraft is and requires amendment.One Honourable asked UCC whether there are penalties in place for broadcasters who breach the law in this regard noting an example of a particular town where everyone in that area is crying with amayembe day and night.The Chairman also noted that many things go on air which are not necessary and asked UCC to explain whether there are really monitoring tools as it asserted. UCCs Paul Mukasa explained that there are tools to monitor radio and television stations in Mbarara, Masindi, Kampala and Gulu currently. Because of the expensive nature of the tools, the whole country is yet to be covered. He explained that only about 20 television stations and 60 radio stations are under surveillance however Uganda has over 200 radio stations.The Chairman thereafter asked UCC to explain to the Committee about its actions against mobile telecom providers who send their subscribers unsolicited sms. UCC s legal representative explained that although the Commission has not sued any of the telecom companies for this, it has warned them and informed the public to report such incidences and is willing to take further steps to ensure the telecom companies still practicing the unsolicited bulk smsing stop it.The UCC delegates were thereafter thanked for their presentation, and encouraged to sit in on the next presentation.

UGANDA NEDDAGALA LYAFFEThe delegation leader, one Kiwanuka made the presentation before the Committee of the nature of the organisation and the business it does as well as the acceptable practices of traditional healers.The famed Mama Phina was also asked to speak to the Committee, which she did in luganda. She expressed her sadness at the murders related to witchcraft and explained to the Committee that murderes were never a part of traditional medicine historically and appear to be a new phenomenon. Mama Phina also added that there is practically no law governing witchcraft in Uganda and as a result where suspects are arrested by police they are quickly set free.Hon Kiiza put Mama Phina to task questioning her about the difference between witchdoctors and traditional healers. When asked where traditional healers are educated and trained, Organisation representatives could not answer.Hon Kiiza also asked whether it is possible that the practices of sacrificing peoples lives were imported from other regions in Africa and the Organisation representatives agreed. Mama Phina submitted that traditionally sacrificial objects must be edible and eaten and therefore child sacrifice would not be acceptable- to this Hon Kiiza asked whether in a place where cannibalism is practiced child sacrifice would not then be acceptable but there was no answer.The Chairman read from page 10. Of the presentation which states that ritual helps ensure a communitys responsible relationship with the ancestors who are the guardians of moral order. He questioned whether that belief itself is not witchcraft since the medicinal practice appears to be derived from spiritual guidance. Mama Phina however denied this saying that although the traditional healers believe in a god and spiritual guidance, they do not practice witchcraft.The chairman then stated that the members of Uganda NeDdagala Lyaffe would have to convince the Committee beyond doubt that the organisation is not promoting human sacrifice, explaining that the presentation of the Organisation shows that the traditional healers believe in spirits and in sacrifices in order to attain the objective which points to witchcraft.Hon Kiiza comically stated that you are spiritual healers in Kampala and in Kasese they give different treatments for the same ailments. She asked why, if the healers are practicing medicine, they cannot come up with the same solution for the same problem as medical doctors do, and why the same spirits give different advice in different areas.Mama Phina denied the assertion of the Chairman that the traditional healers fight HIV instead saying they carry out counselling and use herbal medicine that works. When tasked to explain the source of their strength, mam Phina explained that there are mountains where it can be attained giving the example of Mountain Nyinzi and daring the Chair to go there if he seeks power.Kiwanuka explained that Uganda NeDdagala Lyaffe was formed to fight witchcraft and distinguish traditional medicine from witchcraft.The Chairman asked Mama Phina and her religion to be a peaceful one which does ot extort or kill saying dont rape your followers, dont kill their children, dont steal their money.He thereafter ended the meeting promising to include the views and considerations from meeting the Organisation delegates in the Report to be drafted.