Uganda: Uganda's Digital Duel Reveals the Latest Election Manipulation Tactics

What the report says

An Institute for Security Studies analysis published by AllAfrica examines how Uganda’s January 2026 election became a contest over online influence as rival political networks used deceptive digital campaigns, including artificial intelligence-generated material, to shape public perceptions. The report says the country’s ruling National Resistance Movement and the opposition National Unity Platform both relied on coordinated online activity, fake accounts and paid influencers to spread political messages, despite a heavily restricted information environment and an internet shutdown around polling.

The study, commissioned by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, used open-source research, data analysis and fieldwork in Uganda. It found that state-aligned actors and opposition supporters each worked to amplify their narratives, while some content was repackaged as apparently neutral reporting and circulated across social media and messaging services. The report also describes the use of entertainment platforms and influencer networks to broaden reach, as well as the appearance of deepfakes, misleading clips and recycled footage.

Beyond domestic politics, the analysis says there was some foreign-linked activity, including accounts associated with Russia and MAGA communities, though it suggests this played a limited role in the election outcome. It also notes pressure on media outlets, including a cyberattack on a national platform and restrictions on reporting. The broader significance, the report argues, is that Uganda offers a case study in how covert online manipulation is becoming a routine feature of elections and poses new challenges for watchdogs, platforms and journalists.