Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander CP. Moses Kafeero has warned of stringent action on any one found and caught distributing pornographic videos or any related content.
Speaking at the meeting with members of the Uganda Film Producers Association and movie vendors in Kampala yesterday 8th Mr Kafeero asked the public to desist from circulation and consumption of pornographic material whether on social media or through the traditional electronic and print media or in any other form.
Kafeero said that for the purposes of law, it doesn’t matter where the offending material originates but whoever possess and circulates it is strongly warned of the consequences.
Speaking about pornographic material routinely accessed, he said that there is academic evidence coming out to suggest it as having an impact on how young people in particular perceive relationships and women.
“We have to make it clear that this is not the direction we believe our society should be going and the outcome of not addressing these effects is likely to result into a higher number of victims of serious sexual crime,” he said.
According to science, consumption of pornographic materials may rewire the brain, altering its structure and function, and causing addictive behavior to emerge.
Watching porn cause dopamine to be released in the part of the brain responsible for emotions and learning.
However, in the fight against pornography in the country, various laws like the Anti-Pornography Act have been passed and various task force groups like the Pornographic Control Committee have been formed.
Police revealed that Minister of Ethics and Integrity Hon. Fr. Simon Lokodo appointed a nine member Pornographic Control Committee.
The committee is headed by Dr. Annet Kezaabu Kasimbazi who is the chairperson and some of the members like Pastor Dr. Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church.
The Pornographic Control Committee is tasked with ensuring early detection and prohibition of pornography, apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, collection and destroying of pornographic materials and objects, promoting the rehabilitation of individuals affected by pornography, among others.
Kafeero pledged mass sensitisation of those dealers in filming industry to avoid operational mistakes and called upon whoever has phonographic materials to hand them over to police before any operation is carried out.