However, recent events have highlighted the transformative potential of platforms like Twitter and Facebook, which are now evolving into influential avenues for activism within the country. This observation stems from a comprehensive report released by the Evidence and Methods Lab (EML), a civic tech initiative focused on transparency, accountability, and social justice.
The study’s foundation was rooted in a series of exhibitions that took place on Twitter between April and June 2023, led by key figures such as The Observer’s cartoonist Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, journalist Agather Atuhaire, and lawyer Godwin Toko.
The exhibitions were structured around hashtags, including #potholexhibition, addressing the state of roads in Kampala; #UgandaHealthExhibition, shedding light on the nation’s healthcare sector; and #UgandaNGOsExhibition, delving into the role of non governmental organizations as government watchdogs.
Speaking to The Observer, Michael Katagaya, the leader of EML, articulated their aim to capture vital online discussions and present policymakers with a comprehensive panorama of national affairs. He underscored the importance of sifting through substantial data and noted that the hashtag-driven campaigns facilitated access to campaign-related information.
Though data from platforms like Facebook and YouTube were considered, Twitter’s microblogging environment was pivotal due to its prevalence for conversations and exhibitions.
Notably, during the pothole exhibition, President Museveni unexpectedly allocated Shs 6 billion for road repairs in Kampala. While social media activism is recognized as a potent tool for raising awareness, these exhibitions spotlighted the capacity of social media to spur tangible real-world change.
The pothole exhibition garnered prompt responses, unlike the healthcare exhibition, where immediate results proved elusive, often attributed to the capital-intensive nature of healthcare investments.
Michael Katagaya articulated, “The sentiment seems to call for the bridging of the online-offline divide, emphasizing the need to translate digital activism into concrete policy and systemic change.”
He further highlighted the necessity for simplifying budget language to make the entire budgeting process comprehensible to the general populace. Responding to the report, Ssentongo expressed hope that their efforts would be received in the intended spirit.
He observed that the exhibitions demonstrated a growing desire among citizens to voice their concerns. Even without immediate responses, the act of expressing themselves was cathartic, enabling marginalized individuals to engage with those in power. Ssentongo believed in the potential for better roads and healthcare services, acknowledging that while perfection might be unattainable, substantial improvement was possible.
In the report, Ssentongo also critiqued leaders from the NGO sector, accusing some of reducing the exhibitions to personal feuds while neglecting issues within their own purview. Emmanuel Ainebyona, the spokesperson of the ministry of Health, noted that the exhibition prompted introspection within the ministry’s leadership.
It revealed the pivotal role social media plays in engaging with citizens and led some individuals who were previously not on social media to open accounts and connect with the discussions.
Simon Kasyate, spokesperson of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), emphasized that the exhibitions mirrored the collective demand of the city’s residents for improved roads. He explained how centralized revenue management affected KCCA’s ability to fulfill its commitments to Kampala’s populace.
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