New media and the changing public sphere in Uganda

Ejisdc the Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries, 2015

By subsidizing the costs of civic participation, the use of the Internet use is believed to stimulate participation but there are fears that intensive Internet use causes withdrawal from public life. This paper investigates the connection between the way individuals participate online and offline in authoritarian, low-income regimes, and the nature of eParticipation among citizens in authoritarian regimes such as Uganda. Based on personal interviews with 116 Internet users, the study found that common drivers of eParticipation, such as low cost, security and anonymity are hard to transplant into the offline world for citizens of authoritarian states such as Uganda. Perceived risks of retribution and intimidation for expressing a particular opinion or supporting a political cause mean that citizen-to-citizen participation is the predominant form but still at low levels, while citizen-to-government participation is negligible.

Unsilenced Voices, 2023

Media Independence in Uganda has been a long and tumultuous journey. Since the 1980s, Uganda has been grappling with a history of government censorship and media restrictions, which have limited the ability of journalists to report freely and impartially. The advent of new media technologies has opened up new spaces for critical voices and alternative media, but these gains are threatened by new laws and regulations that seek to silence dissent. The study draws on a range of sources, including interviews with journalists, media experts, and civil society groups, to examine the complex web of political, economic, and social factors that have shaped the media landscape in Uganda. It argues that while there have been significant gains in media freedom in recent years, the struggle for independence remains an ongoing challenge, requiring ongoing vigilance and activism from civil society, media professionals, and citizens alike. Since Uganda gained independence in 1962, media independence has been a key concern for the country's citizens and the press. In the early years of independence, the media landscape in Uganda was dominated by government-owned media, which acted as the mouthpiece of the ruling political party. However, in recent years, the media landscape has changed, and a vibrant private media sector has emerged, which has challenged the dominance of the state media. This study examines the historical and contemporary struggles for media independence in Uganda. The study traces the development of the media landscape in Uganda from the pre-independence era to the present day. The paper discusses the role of the state in shaping the media landscape, and how government policies have impacted the development of media independence in Uganda. This article also looks at the challenges that journalists and media outlets face in Uganda. These challenges include government censorship, harassment of journalists, and the lack of access to information. The paper examines the role of the media in promoting democracy and holding government officials accountable for their actions. The paper also discusses the impact of social media on the media landscape in Uganda. It argues that media independence is crucial for the development of a democratic society. It provides a platform for citizens to voice their concerns and hold government officials accountable. Media censorship in Uganda has been a persistent problem for years, with the government using various tactics to suppress freedom of expression and the press. Journalists and media houses that have spoken out against the government have faced intimidation, arrest, and closure, which has had a chilling effect on the country's media landscape. The study concludes by calling for a renewed commitment to media independence in Uganda. The government must create policies that support media freedom and protect journalists from harassment and censorship. The media, on the other hand, must uphold ethical standards and professionalism in their reporting. By working together, the government and the media can build a strong and independent media sector that serves the interests of the people of Uganda.

African Journalism Studies, 2015

This theoretical discussion about the impact of information and communication technologies on journalistic practices and the digital public spheres in West Africa, asks two key questions: 1) To what extent does the ICT-enabled impact on journalism practice contribute to the rejuvenation of the public sphere in African societies, and 2) What are the methodological changes of investigating these contributions? Scholars have argued that advances in ICTs can be used to initiate alternative forms of news production and citizen engagement that would either augment the efforts of the mainstream news media in African countries or, if need be, bypass the challenges they face. This argument sits well within current debates about the use and impact of ICTs on news consumption, journalistic practices, and the expansion of the public sphere. As many African countries still aspire towards functioning and modern democratic structures, there is a clear need for further academic discussion on, and empirical research into, this technology-led transformation of journalism. The connection of these challenges with the emancipation of the public sphere is evident, and thus we arrive at the questions this article addresses by drawing on published literature of both theoretical and empirical contexts, as well as the author's observations and research.

Arvix, 2025

Abstract: Utilizing mobile and social media platforms is a transformative approach to enhancing freedom of expression and fostering digital engagement. However, Uganda’s digital ecosystem faces challenges such as restrictive legislation, financial barriers, and the absence of localized platforms tailored to cultural contexts. This study employed a mixed-methods approach to explore how these platforms influence public discourse, activism, and civic participation while highlighting opportunities for local innovation. The research further identified the critical need for regulatory reforms, investments in digital literacy, and collaborative efforts to develop sustainable and culturally relevant platforms, ensuring a more inclusive and empowered digital society. Keywords: Freedom of Expression, Mobile Services, Social Media Platforms, Local Digital Innovation, Uganda's Digital Ecosystem

Media, Culture & Society, 2020

The article discusses the role of social media in relation to the traditional journalistic sphere in Uganda. Through an analysis of how journalists in three Ugandan newspapers use social media in their daily work, the article discusses how social media affect conventional sourcing practices, reportage and professional norms. The article is particularly interested in how Facebook and Twitter serve as alternative channels through which sources with less access to traditional means of communication get their message(s) across to journalists. The findings are discussed in light of the present development of social media legislation in Uganda. The discussions feed into a larger reflection on social media’s potential to create avenues of access in a semi-democratic setting where attempts to curtail media freedom and freedom of expression are frequent.

International Journal of Research, 2017

Libertarian theory states that nothing in the world should be restricted. It further says that, there should be free circulation of information in the world and a country should be a free market of ideas/information. However, according to Uganda media research report 2015, media leaders in Uganda constantly acknowledge that there are problems regarding the quality of journalism as often seen in the lack of depth and accuracy, lack of balance and fairness, moralization rather than analysis, provision of excitement and incitement rather than information, and unwanted attacks on the lives of private citizens. Different media houses have been censored, journalists and political leaders arrested and jailed due to the information they disseminate through media channels mainly electronic media. Using observation analysis, the Uganda government has constantly accused the media users of violating the media rules. Similarly, the media users also have constantly blamed the government for denyi...

2017

This chapter is an analysis of the law in the face of the growing digital media in Uganda. It begins with a summary of Uganda’s digital media terrain which helps the chapter to raise an argument of numbers in relation to relevance and external pressure, as forces behind digital media regulation. The background introduces the gist of the chapter, which is the regulation of Uganda’s media in the digital age. A recent court case in Uganda, in which a local singer was sentenced to one year in jail along with her video producer, who was convicted for producing a pornographic music video that was distributed online, inspires this chapter. Didi Mugisha pleaded guilty and became the first victim of the Anti-Pornography Act, which was signed into law in 2014. Beyond that court drama and the international fame it garnered are some serious concerns. First is the relationship between the bulk of Uganda’s media laws and the existing producer/consumer digital platforms, and secondly are the broad...

Digital Media: Transformations in Human Communication, 2nd Ed., 2017

This article is an ethnographic account of the production of a weekly television program that uses a hip-hop format to deliver the news to youth audiences in Uganda. It demonstrates the manner in which a revolution in digital technologies has democratized production, allowing unconventional mediamakers to communicate with new audiences through innovative formats. It also suggests that the darkside of digital democratization is a deepening digital divide, particularly in developing nations, where there are severe disparities in access to the mediums of reception. This includes not only hardware and software, but electricity itself. Lastly, it explores the manner in which edutainment programming can use informal media and ambient screens to create parallel broadcast networks, sidestepping censorship while also reaching broader audiences though last mile media.

Reference Series no19, 2012

This report surveys the news landscapes of DRC, Burundi and Rwanda, examining patterns of production and consumption, the often grim realities of law and regulation, the embryonic state of media policy, the role of donors, and the positive impact of online platforms. If new and digital media have made a very slow start and connectivity remains low, change is afoot, led by the growth of mobile internet access. Many media outlets now have an online presence. SMS has become a basic tool for reporters. Interactivity gives voice to increasing numbers of listeners. The ease of digital archiving makes it possible to create a collective media “memory”. Above all, the unstoppable flow of digitized information enables ever more people to learn about current events and available services.