Report on Media regulation in Kenya, Tanzania Uganda and Zambia and its implications for reporting on illicit financial flows and tax abuse

Media freedom is increasingly under threat as governments exploit laws and policies to suppress dissenting voices and control information. By enacting restrictive legislation, authorities stifle investigative journalism, censor critical reporting, and curtail the right to free expression on Illicit Financial Flows. This is done using vague defamation or national security regulations, they intimidate journalists and media outlets, leading to self-censorship and a chilling effect on reporting on the subject.

This report was developed by the Thomson Reuters Foundation under its Wealth of Nations programme, supported by NORAD (the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation). It sought to assess and outline the basic legal framework regulating online, print and broadcast media in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It presents applicable laws, case law and existing ‘soft’ law and the extent to which they affect reporting on illicit financial flows or tax abuse in the target jurisdictions with the aim of helping journalists and civil society understand the legal and institutional framework they operate in.

The legal research and analysis for this report was facilitated by TrustLaw and carried out by lawyers from Bowmans Tanzania Ltd, Bowmans Coulson Harney LLP (Kenya), AF Mpanga Advocates, and DLA Piper Africa – Chibesakunda & Co.