Digital activism in Uganda

Abstract

This book chapter traces the historical development of digital activism in Uganda focusing on three historical moments relating to the country’s governance: the ‘Save Mabira’ campaign (2007 and 2011); the ‘Walk-to-work’ campaign (2011) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s campaign to replace the National Resistance Movement government in the 2015/2016 elections. The chapter provides an an overview of the provisions for and constraints on freedom of expression and paints a picture of the political environment for any form of activism in Uganda. It presents an overview of key arguments for and against the liberative potential of the new media in a context like Uganda’s. The major questions the chapter addresses relate to the issues driving these campaigns, the communication strategies with a focus on the new media, the achievements and the obstacles/challenges of the campaigns. The chapter thus seeks to document patterns in digital activism in Uganda. The chapter relies on a review of pertinent literature and online content, key informant interviews with leading activists in the three campaigns as well as the author’s own experience of the Ugandan political situation.