Museveni Calls For A Crackdown On People “Misemploying” Social Media
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni says there should be a "crackdown" on people who "are misemploying" social media.
In a speech during the swearing-in of government ministers, Mr Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, said:
Another problem we need to solve – I don’t think it is a security problem but it is an idiotic problem – [is] the social media.
Social media apparently has been saying that ‘Museveni is dead’. So the security service needs also to solve that problem. I need to check with them to locate quickly the one who tells such a story because you waste people’s time. Social media apparently has been saying that ‘Museveni is dead’. So the security service needs also to solve that problem. I need to check with them to locate quickly the one who tells such a story because you waste people’s time.
They should go for you."They should go for you."
He posted a clip of the speech on his Twitter account:
We need to crack down on the people that are misemploying social media, including the Ugandans abroad. Many are now using it to spread baseless and tasteless news with total abandon. I call upon security to look into this. It must be stopped, get these people. pic.twitter.com/OmIjqEYhTs
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) July 8, 2021
In 2018, Mr Museveni argued that social media encouraged gossip and pushed for a social media tax to be introduced.
In the run-up to January's elections, all social media sites were blocked. The government argued that it was necessary for security reasons.
The block was then lifted in February with the exception of Facebook.
Mr Museveni had ordered the blocking of Facebook because it had been reported that the social media company had taken down pages linked to the ministry of information.
People in Uganda are still unable to access Facebook.
The Computer Misuse Act has also been used to regulate social media use.
Bloggers and those with big social media followings are required to register with the Uganda Communications Commission.
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