Uganda
In Uganda, social media is one of the avenues for disseminating information on COVID-19 to citizens. However, the effectiveness has been undermined by the social media tax, which requires telecom subscribers to pay a daily subscription in order to access popular social media platforms.
The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) warns of the proliferation of COVID-19-related fake news on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as other ways in which misinformation is spread in rural areas.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, people everywhere are asked to cease physical interactions and the internet has become the lifeline for the work of human rights defenders currently working from home. What does this mean in Uganda, a country with low internet access?
APC talked to Dorothy Mukasa, executive director of APC's newest member organisation, Uganda-based Unwanted Witness, about challenging internet shutdowns and other violations of human rights online in a country with high levels of corruption, unemployment and poverty.
Unwanted Witness was established in 2012 by a group of netizens, bloggers, activists, writers and human rights defenders as an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit civil society organisation. It seeks to create secure uncensored online platforms to promote human rights through writing, informing and educating citizens who also utilise the platforms for strengthening free expression an...
Last year, Uganda’s communications regulator commissioned a study to establish the status of access to and usage of ICT by persons with disabilities. In response to a call for comments, CIPESA made a submission to the commission which could help various government agencies to devise strategies.
As of midnight on 1 July 2018, telecom companies in Uganda blocked access to social media platforms for all users and required them to pay a newly introduced "over-the-top” (OTT) tax before regaining access. The tax will likely push basic connectivity further out of reach for millions.
Would you like to participate in an international internship with one of Alternatives’ partners? APC and its members in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Uganda have exciting internship opportunities waiting for you!
APC’s subgranting programme, now in its third year, has so far awarded a total of USD 291,534 to support its members in achieving APC’s vision. Sixteen member organisations have been recipients of 17 grants. The call for campaign and research grants is still open.
Helen Nyinakiiza provides digital security training for human rights activists and is a research coordinator on tech usability.
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2020
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