This archive report was first published on 9 July 2021.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has directed security forces to take swift action against individuals spreading fake news about his death.
On Thursday, President Museveni expressed his frustration with the misinformation, which has been circulating on social media platforms since June 26.
‘‘Apparently, social media has been saying that Museveni is dead. They (security forces) should locate very quickly [the one who tells such a story],’’ Mr Museveni said.
He emphasized that the security forces should solve what he described as an idiotic problem, warning that those responsible would be held accountable.
‘‘Security service should solve that problem. I need to check with them (security officers) so that we go for you. If you’re in Europe, we denounce you and say go to hell because you are wasting people’s time,’’ he warned.
Uganda has witnessed an alarming rise in misinformation, especially across social media networks, during the Covid-19 pandemic era.
According to Prof Monica Chibita, a communication scholar and lecturer at Uganda Christian University, fake news often has undesirable outcomes.
‘‘There's need for equipping...people at the receiving end on how to re-examine information before perceiving it as gospel truth,’’ she said in a recent interview.
