Browsing: News

Uganda’s government is urging its local communication officers to take their message online, as millions of citizens—mostly young and tech-savvy—turn to social media for news and information. ICT Permanent Secretary Dr. Aminah Zawedde says it’s time for public servants to “speak to citizens where they are,” using platforms like TikTok, WhatsApp, and YouTube to tell real stories of government progress and counter misinformation.

At Makerere University’s 25th Media Convention, BBC’s Racheal Akidi delivered a stark warning: Uganda’s next election won’t just test democracy—it will test truth itself. As artificial intelligence blurs the line between fact and fabrication, Akidi urged journalists to act fast, build AI literacy, and restore public trust before deepfakes and disinformation shape the national narrative. “The challenge today,” she said, “is not access—it’s trust.”

Uganda’s first-ever WASH Impact and Influence Awards lit up Kampala on Friday night, honoring changemakers who have turned the struggle for clean water, sanitation, and hygiene into a story of innovation and hope. From Amref Health Africa and Rotary Uganda to Makerere University’s Antimicrobial Resistance Club, the winners embodied a quiet revolution—one where engineers, students, and community leaders are rewriting what progress looks like, one drop at a time.

Uganda has made strides in service delivery, but much of that progress goes untold. A new government shake-up aims to change that—rotating long-serving communication officers, retraining them for the digital age, and putting storytelling at the heart of governance. The reforms could mark the beginning of a more open, responsive state that speaks directly to its citizens.