Subverting state censorship: Social media and the struggle for human rights and democracy in Uganda

Abstract

The liberalization of the print and electronic media in Uganda has culminated in a proliferation of media houses. The country now has over 300 licensed radio stations and over 50 television stations. The liberalization of Uganda’s electronic and print media space, however, has not been accompanied by the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression and the right to access information. This is because the almost four-decades-old dictatorship in Uganda has put in place draconian media legislations to stifle media freedoms. This has encouraged some media organizations to opt for self-censorship on a number of issues in order to align with the autocratic interests of the state. Consequently, a number of radio and television stations broadcast music, comedy, sports, and other forms of entertainment instead of focusing on fundamental human rights, social justice, democratic and development debates. Many of Uganda’s young people have become cognizant of the fact that the print and electronic media are highly controlled by Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). In order to advance the struggle for human rights and democracy, they have opted for social media spaces like Facebook, WhatsApp, X, TikTok, and YouTube. This chapter assesses the ethical implications of offensive, libelous, and seditious communication models in the struggle for human rights and democracy in Uganda.