Media Law Handbook for Eastern Africa

The Media Law Handbook for Eastern Africa Volume 1 and 2 contains a comprehensive overview of applicable media laws governing the print, online, and broadcast media in six Eastern African countries - Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Uganda. The guide is intended to be a resource for journalists and media owners to empower them to deal with the legal aspects of their work. It can also be used by lawyers, civil society stakeholders, and anyone who is interested in the freedom and independence of the media in the region.

Besides giving a detailed outline of the statutes, regulations, and case laws governing the media in each country, the handbooks covers: internationally developed standards and best practice models of democratic media regulation; universally agreed norms for democratic media and democratic broadcasting regulations; and legitimate internationally accepted standards for restricting the media. The final section of the guide offers suggestions on possible law reforms to improve the protection of media in East Africa.

Volume 1

Chapter 1: The Critical Role of the Media and Press Freedoms in Society
Chapter 2: The Hallmarks of a Democratic Media Environment
Chapter 3: Media Law - Protections and Pitfall for the Media
Chapter 4: Burundi
Chapter 4: Le Burundi (in French)
Chapter 5: Eritrea
Chapter 6: Ethiopia

Volume 2

Chapter 7: Kenya
Chapter 8: Rwanda
Chapter 9: Uganda
Chapter 10: Media Law in the Region: Where to From Here?

This publication for Eastern Africa is a follow on to the Media Law Handbook for Southern Africa produced by KAS Media Africa in 2012 (see Related Summary below).