Busuulwa Steven Dunstan2025-05-152025-05-152025-05-05https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/1582UndergraduateThe purpose of this study was to explore public perception of the role of WhatsApp in promoting social cohesion in Uganda, using the case of Kampala district. WhatsApp is becoming an important tool and gradually changing the way people interact and socialize with others. However, there is a gap in existing literature, particularly, how the public perceives WhatsApp’s role in the promotion of social cohesion in Uganda. Therefore, the study applied the social network theory (Castells, 1996), as a relevant theory to provide insights into public perception the role of WhatsApp in promoting social cohesion in Uganda. This study took a qualitative approach. It employed in-depth interviews and focus group discussion (FGDs) methods for data collection to obtain answers to the research questions. In-depth interviews were held with 5 interviewees, including: media scholar, social media expert, information technology (IT) expert, Media regulator and Civil Society Official (CSO), while 2 FGDs were held with members of the public (from the 2 divisions; Kampala Central and Kawempe) of Kampala. The study is premised on the background that social media can work to facilitate social networks and relationships. The findings of this study revealed that there have been several ways through which the public perceives WhatsApp usage in promoting social cohesion in Kampala district. These include: public sphere, social mobilisation tool, and source of information. Further, it was also established that WhatsApp usage presents various opportunities in the promotion of social cohesion, especially among the users in Kampala district. These include: instant messaging, multi-media capability, adaptability, language and ease of use, user-generated content, and security, safety and privacy of users. The study also established that there are some challenges which are associated with WhatsApp usage in the promotion of social cohesion in Kampala district. The challenges are many, including: limited digital literacy, misinformation, disinformation and fake news, restrictions on social media usage, network challenges, cost dynamics, and scamming, hacking and privacy breaches. The researcher draws conclusions, proposes other areas of inquiry and recommends a need for Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to expand, but not to suffocate space for exercise of the right to online freedom of expression by adopting ‘well-intentioned policies’ on social media usage; coupled with government expansion of the internet infrastructure in the entire country to step up connectivity on these social networks. Further, the study recommends that there is dire need for WhatsApp users to become more digital literate, particularly through acquiring multi-media skills so as to become more tech-savvy.enThesis