As Uganda approaches another electoral season, the country is also navigating a defining moment in our digital journey. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept reserved for experts and laboratories. It is here, shaping how we communicate, learn, organise, and participate in civic life. Used responsibly, AI can expand access to information and strengthen democratic engagement. When misused, it can distort truth, inflame division, and weaken public trust.
If you are online, you are already part of Uganda’s election conversation. According to the Uganda Communications Commission, internet penetration has surpassed 50% of the population. At the same time, social media use continues to rise rapidly, particularly among the youth, who make up more than 70% of the Ugandan population.
Every post shared, video forwarded, or message reacted to shapes public opinion. This is why the use of AI matters to our democracy, especially among young people who dominate digital spaces and largely determine how information spreads.
As Chairperson of the National Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, established to guide Uganda’s safe, ethical, and lawful adoption of AI, I am keenly aware of both its promise and its risks. Those risks become sharper during election periods. We are already witnessing the misuse of AI to create deceptive content, including deepfake images and videos that falsely portray candidates, AI-generated audio that impersonates leaders, and automated accounts that spread false narratives at speed. In some cases, manipulated data is deliberately presented as official election results to undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
This is not just a technology problem. It is a civic responsibility issue. AI itself is not the enemy. The real danger lies in how it can be used to spread falsehoods faster than truth, especially when content is designed to provoke fear, anger, or confusion rather than inform. During elections, such manipulation interferes with citizens’ ability to make informed choices.
Democracy does not only happen at polling stations. It happens every day on your phone screen. When unverified content is shared casually, even as a joke or “just for awareness,” it can mislead thousands of others. That is why being digitally smart is now a civic duty. Pause before you post. Ask simple but important questions. Who created this content? Can it be verified through a credible or official source? Is it designed to provoke fear or anger rather than explain facts? Verification is not censorship; it is responsibility.
Citizens must also protect themselves. Many fake AI platforms collect personal data, clone voices, or track political preferences without consent. Services that demand excessive personal information, promise exclusive political insights, or operate anonymously should be treated with caution. Personal data is valuable and easily misused.
Political actors must lead by example. Ethical campaigning is not optional. Candidates and parties should avoid circulating deceptive AI-generated material, ensure authenticity in their communications, and respond transparently when clarification is needed. The media, as a trusted public institution, must uphold rigorous fact-checking standards and avoid amplifying unverified or sensational content.
Although Uganda is still developing a dedicated AI legal framework, existing laws already apply. Election-related misconduct remains unlawful whether committed offline or online, and the misuse of AI to mislead or manipulate carries serious consequences.
Young people are often portrayed as vulnerable to misinformation, yet they are also the strongest defence against it. As critical thinkers and influential voices, they have the power to challenge falsehoods, promote verified information, and demand integrity from leaders and institutions.
The future of Uganda’s democracy is digital, and it is already in the hands of its citizens. By using AI responsibly, Ugandans can ensure that technology strengthens democratic participation rather than distorts it, and that elections reflect informed choice, not engineered deception.
The author is Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, and Chairperson, National AI Taskforce
