As Ugandans closely follow developments from polling stations across the country, online platforms have become flooded with dramatic images, videos and claims linked to the electoral process.
Some posts have sparked outrage, others fear, while a few have rapidly gone viral within minutes. Yet beneath the fast moving digital noise, concerns are quietly mounting about the credibility of what many citizens are consuming and sharing.
The Electorial Commission of Uganda has share this warning
Beware of staged or manufactured fabrications of videos, photographs or any other content about the ongoing elections that are being created and circulated by unscrupulous people on social media platforms. Verify before sharing anything you see online to avoid misleading and misinforming people and falling victim to computer misuse offences.
The Commission cautioned that some individuals are deliberately staging or manufacturing videos, photographs and other digital material with the aim of misleading the public and distorting the electoral process.
According to the Commission, such fabricated content is designed to appear authentic and is often shared alongside alarming captions to provoke anger or fear.
Officials stressed that sharing unverified material, even unknowingly, can contribute to the spread of false information and undermine public confidence in the elections.
The Commission urged voters, media users and political actors to verify information through official channels before sharing it online.
It emphasized that failure to do so could expose individuals to legal consequences under Uganda’s computer misuse and cybercrime laws, which criminalize the publication and circulation of false or misleading information.
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The warning comes amid growing global concern over digital disinformation during elections, with authorities noting that modern technology has made it easier to manipulate content through editing tools and artificial intelligence.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting a transparent and credible electoral process and called on the public to play a responsible role.
As Uganda navigates this critical democratic moment, officials are appealing for calm, vigilance and digital responsibility, reminding citizens that truth remains the strongest safeguard for democracy.
With tensions naturally high during an election period, social media has emerged as both a powerful information tool and a potential weapon for manipulation.
Experts warn that emotionally charged content spreads faster than verified facts, creating fertile ground for confusion, panic and mistrust.
In recent days, several clips and photographs circulating online have already raised questions about their authenticity, origins and intent.
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