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Uganda pop-singer could face 10 years in jail for new video

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Uganda’s very own pop-singer Jemimah Kansiime’s is likely to face  10 year jail sentence if found guilty  for releasing a pornographic music video.

In the music video, the 21 year old is seen dancing in soapy underwear, which is regarded as pornography according to the anti- pornography law.

The music video became a hit among her fans but not the conservative politicians who say it broke a tough new anti-pornography law.

The 21 year old Kansiime uses the stage name -panadol wa Basajja which literally means ” medicine for men” was earlier jailed for five weeks and was released on bail after pleading not guilty.

The new anti-pornography law was enacted in February 2014. Human Rights Watch has since criticized the law saying that it loosely defines pornography and has encouraged public attacks on women wearing skimpy clothing.

Critics say it is part of a growing anti liberal movement that includes tough laws against homosexuals in Uganda, where religion-driven conservatism appears to be on the rise and where US evangelical preachers, rather than pop stars such as Kansiime, often receive rock star welcomes.

“My rights have been trampled upon, my freedom of expression has been trampled upon,” she told AFP in her tin-shack home in capital city Kampala.

“I was aware that there are some sections of society that are conservative,” said the singer, smoothing her rainbow coloured hair extensions that always cover one eye.

But one thing she thought she had learnt from her idols, including Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, is that sex sells.

“I was just experimenting to see if I put on a short dress, will the audience like it?” said the singer.

Her lawyer, Isaac Semakadde, argues that the case is a test for the right of Ugandan performers to “express themselves”.

“That right to erotic entertainment, there has to be a space for it in an open and free society,” he said, saying divisions must be made between entertainment and clearly criminal offences such as child pornography.

Amnesty International has called for the law to be repealed and her lawyer Semakadde ultimately wants it scrapped, too.

– Mail&Guardian

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