Scholar and public intellectual Jim Spire Ssentongo has raised concerns over what he describes as a muted response by mainstream media during the country’s recent election period, amid reports of killings, kidnappings, and persecution.
In a statement shared on X, Ssentongo suggested that media houses exercised restraint after receiving official warnings ahead of the polls.
According to him, some outlets were cautioned against broadcasting live coverage of protests, prompting editors to adopt a more cautious approach to election reporting.
He argued that this caution went beyond the formal directives, resulting in self-censorship on sensitive incidents linked to the elections.
Ssentongo claimed that as a result, reports of alleged violence and human rights abuses were largely absent from mainstream platforms, leaving social media as the primary space where such accounts emerged.
However, he noted that social media presents its own challenges, including misinformation, lack of verification, and limited reach among certain audiences.
The remarks come against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of Uganda’s media environment, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
Media freedom groups have previously raised concerns about restrictions on journalists, including threats, arrests, and regulatory pressure during elections.