Social Media Use and Student Politics in Ugandan Universities

Abstract

Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp are essential in university students' daily politics. In Uganda, where the university administration and the Ugandan regime limit party politics, students have turned to social media to share political messages, acquire political knowledge, create public opinion, and mobilize peers. Some university administrations have prohibited partisan politics, and the regime has used legal frameworks such as the Public Order Management Act 2013 to prevent the opposition from recruiting and mobilizing students. The purpose of the paper was to investigate the role of social media on student politics, specifically guild elections, at four regionally selected universities. The study used a mixed method approach, including 12 in-depth interviews, a survey of 182 students, and documentary reviews. The findings highlight two significant issues: First, social media use constantly influences politics during election season and throughout the year. Second, given the constraints imposed by the university administration and the regime, social media has given students an alternative political platform. 

Received: 23 June 2023 / Accepted: 24 August 2023 / Published: 5 September 2023