As Uganda moves closer to the general elections slated for January 15, the Ministry of Information, Communications, Technology and National Guidance has issued a warning over the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in the political space.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, cautioned that emerging digital technologies, particularly AI, could be weaponised to mislead voters and interfere with the integrity of the electoral process if left unchecked.
Dr. Zawedde, who also heads the National Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, said the body was created to steer the country toward responsible and ethical adoption of AI technologies. She noted that when properly used, AI can empower citizens by widening access to information and encouraging active civic engagement.
Despite these benefits, she expressed concern that AI-driven tools could be abused to create false narratives, manipulate images and videos, and amplify misinformation during campaigns.
“AI is a neutral technology,” Dr. Zawedde said. “The real threat arises when it is deliberately used to deceive the public or undermine trust in democratic institutions.”
She appealed to citizens to be vigilant when consuming political content online, urging them to verify information before sharing it on digital platforms. According to her, careless sharing of unverified material could negatively influence public opinion during a sensitive national exercise.
Dr. Zawedde further emphasized that although Uganda is still developing AI-specific regulations, existing laws already criminalize election-related misconduct, regardless of whether it occurs online or offline.
She urged political players, media houses, and the public to act responsibly and safeguard the credibility of the electoral process.
