Social Media Misuse and Digital Rights Violations During Uganda’s Political Campaign Season

By Timothy Mwanje – Director at High Intelligence  | Kampala, Uganda

Uganda’s political campaign periods have increasingly become hotspots for online misinformation, harassment, and human rights and privacy violations, further amplified by the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. While social media empowers citizens to share information rapidly, it has also fuelled a troubling trend of publicly exposing and accusing individuals without authorised verification or due process. This misuse of digital platforms has led to reputational harm, wrongful accusations, public intimidation, and widespread ethical concerns.

The images widely circulated on social media platforms such as X/twitter, TikTok, and Facebook illustrate how easily a person’s photo or video can be taken out of context and used to create narratives that may provoke physical violence or mob justice, bypassing lawful processes.

On 7th December 2025, a viral incident of an individual named Kankiriho Coleb was publicly posted on social media as participating in acts of violence during a presidential rally in Gulu City. Old photos and videos of him with colleagues and family were retrieved from unrelated moments and reposted, exposing not only him but also his family and associates to public threat. Alarmingly, images of children were included in these posts on Facebook, putting minors at risk and violating their rights.

However, in a video response circulating online, Coleb clearly states that he is not currently in Uganda, denies any involvement in the alleged acts, and clarifies that he has no connection to the individual shown in the violent clips. Despite his clarification, the first frame narrative had already spread widely, exposing his children, family, and colleagues to scrutiny and violating their privacy and human rights.

(screenshot) Kankiriho Coleb, in the video clip, responds to media accusations

This case reflects a growing pattern in Uganda’s digital space where:

Random, unrelated photos are attached to political stories.

Unverified allegations are spread before facts are checked.

Innocent individuals become targets of public outrage and digital harassment.

 

Implications of This Digital Misuse and Digital Rights Violations

Violation of Privacy and Digital Rights: Misusing someone’s image without consent, especially to accuse them of wrongdoing, directly violates their right to privacy, dignity, and protection from defamation or public insult.

Irreversible Reputational Harm: Once misinformation goes viral, correcting the narrative becomes extremely difficult. The affected individual may suffer long-term personal, social, and professional consequences.

Escalation of Political Tensions: During such campaign periods, unverified claims and manipulated content can inflame political divisions, provoke hostility, and even lead to physical violence. Social media becomes a weapon of intimidation rather than a platform for civic engagement.

Psychological Impact: Being falsely accused or exposed online can trigger trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress.

The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), and the National Information Technology Authority - Uganda (NITA-U), has consistently warned against the misuse of digital platforms, especially during high-tension periods such as political campaigns, festive seasons, and public gatherings.

Concluding with: The misidentification incident highlighted in this case study underscores a pressing challenge in Uganda’s digital ecosystem, the rapid spread of unverified information that can cause real harm to innocent citizens.

As political campaigns intensify, it becomes increasingly crucial for Ugandans to prioritize truth, verification, and respect for human dignity before sharing or reacting to online content.

A safer digital environment begins with each user making responsible choices, choosing verification over virality, and ethics over exaggeration.

Social media users should never attempt to replace lawful investigative processes.

Authorities should emphasize the need to:

Promote responsible digital citizenship.

Strengthen enforcement against online harassment.

Protect citizens from identity misuse, insult, and cybercrime.

These calls highlight the importance of balancing freedom of expression with the protection of individual rights when using social media platforms.

 

 Facebook, retrieved old photos with family

Different faces  attached to the accused