KAMPALA – Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, along with Eswatini’s Inkhosikati (Queen) Make LaMashwama, have jointly emphasized the pressing need for African governments to introduce internet censorship policies. Their discussion pointed out the importance of restricting the online information accessible to young people.
During a meeting at State House Entebbe on Wednesday, Mrs. Museveni and Queen Make LaMashwama addressed the challenges posed by unrestricted internet access. They noted that children are increasingly exposed to inappropriate content online, which can have harmful effects on their well-being. Often, parents are unaware of what their children are viewing on their devices.
Queen Make LaMashwama is on a three-day state visit to Uganda with her husband, King Mswati III. This visit provided an opportunity for her and Mrs. Museveni to discuss various issues, including internet safety and cultural preservation.
Mrs. Museveni pointed out that several countries, including those in the Arab world, have implemented policies to block undesirable internet content. She questioned why African nations have not adopted similar measures. “We need to start protecting our children from harmful information on the internet,” Mrs. Museveni said. She also mentioned her concerns about her grandchildren using mobile phones and the need for continuous vigilance despite technological advancements.
Queen Make LaMashwama echoed these concerns, noting the prevalence of smartphones among teenagers today. She emphasized that it is difficult for parents to monitor their children’s online activities effectively. Besides social media, she highlighted the risks associated with video games and web cameras, which can be misused to manipulate young people.
In addition to internet safety, Mrs. Museveni and Queen Make LaMashwama discussed the importance of safeguarding African culture and family values. They expressed their opposition to the legitimization of LGBTQ rights and radical sexual rights, which, they argued, have led some young people to pursue gender identity surgeries.
Mrs. Museveni also shared information about her social initiatives. These include the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), established in 1986 to support orphans and vulnerable children, and the Uganda Youth Forum, which educates young people about HIV/AIDS prevention through abstinence, faithfulness, and condom use. She highlighted the impact of the ‘True Love Waits’ cards, which encourage youth to commit to abstinence until marriage, contributing to a reduction in HIV/AIDS transmission.
Additionally, Mrs. Museveni discussed her support for rural women through the National Strategy for the Advancement of Rural Women in Uganda (NSARWU) and her involvement with the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), which focuses on HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation.
Queen Make LaMashwama acknowledged the high HIV prevalence in Eswatini during the 1980s and 1990s but noted significant progress due to government education efforts. Eswatini was the first African country to achieve the UNAIDS 95:95:95 goal. She also mentioned her personal commitment to the “True Love Waits” campaign and her work with the Imbeleko Foundation, which she founded in 2019 to support women’s development through education and training.
The meeting also included Eswatini’s Minister of Home Affairs, Princess Lindiwe; the wife of the Ambassador of Eswatini to Uganda, Madam Phumelele Mamba; Antoinette Henwood-Roland, Deputy Head of Mission at the Eswatini Embassy in Addis Ababa; and the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Nankunda Mutasingwa.
