Uganda bans 'pornographic' papers

Ugandan newspapers containing sexually erotic photographs or cartoons have been banned from general sale.

The country's Media Council says that in future "pornographic content" should only be sold at specially designated shops to people over the age of 18.

The council's Paul Mukasa denied the move was overly puritanical.

Correspondents say tabloids showing pictures of half-naked women and graphic cartoons are popular in Uganda especially with young people.

Sale

Mr Mukasa claimed that such content was harmful and the "decision has received a lot of support from members of the public".

"The council has defined pornography as a publication, graphic, picture or photograph or literature which depicts an unclothed or under-clothed sexually arousing parts of the human body; or reflects and describes or narrates sexual intercourse," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

He said the ban comes into effect immediately and was not targeting any particular publication.

The BBC's Siraj Kalyango in the capital, Kampala, said newspapers like Kamunnye, which often contain raunchy stories written by readers and illustrated with lewd cartoons, were still on sale at news stands on Friday.

But the editor of the Red Pepper newspaper, which owns Kamunnye, told the BBC News website that he was not worried about the new regulations.

Richard Tusiime said that Kamunnye was suitable for under 18s as "the content being talked about does not run in that newspaper".