Assessing fake news on X during the 2021 Ugandan presidential election

Abstract

The study assessed fake news on X during Uganda’s 2021 presidential elections using three objectives: (1). The first objective established how X users interacted with the fake news, while the second objective identified the themes in X fake news. The third objective identified ways through which fake news can be mitigated without prejudicing free speech. Two theoretical views of political communication, agenda setting and social cognition were utilized to assess fake news during Uganda’s 2021 presidential elections. It was mixed methods research which involved collecting data using tools such as content analysis, interviews and survey. The key findings indicate the dominance of young people aged 25-34 as X users during the 2021 presidential elections. The study also found that the majority of X users could not distinguish between fake news and genuine information shared on the microblogging platform. The findings also suggest that fake news themes intended to incite the public, instill fear to show rivals as violent and hooligans, to show that some political candidates had bowed out of the race, engaging in voter bribery and ballot staffing. Furthermore, the study outcomes showed that fake news can be mitigated by providing factual information and addressing public ignorance. The study recommends that the communication regulator, Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), should partner with reputable media houses to conduct mass sensitization on how to fact-check social media information to reduce the huge percentages of social media users who just share and comment about social media information before verifying whether it’s true or concocted. The researcher recommends that politicians at all levels should be sensitized on the impact of creating, sharing or circulating fake news on society. Also, political parties should take initiative to educate their supporters on how to spot, and respond to fake news.