On April 8, 2025, The Daily Monitor reported that the Ugandan government is in the process of acquiring a social media tracking tool. Citing national security, officials have not provided details on the nature, scope, or legal framework guiding this development. This lack of transparency is deeply alarming, especially given Uganda’s history of digital repression and the shrinking space for civic engagement. With the 2026 general elections on the horizon, this move raises critical concerns about privacy, surveillance, and state accountability.

For systemically marginalized communities particularly LGBTQ Ugandans; this development could spell disaster. In a country where queerness is criminalized and often vilified, online spaces have become critical platforms for advocacy, connection, and self-expression. The introduction of a state-run surveillance tool threatens to strip away this digital lifeline, exposing LGBTQ individuals to heightened risks of harassment, arrest, or worse.

Activists, journalists, and human rights defenders, many of whom already navigate threats both online and offline now face the added burden of potential state surveillance. This not only curtails freedom of expression but also creates a chilling effect across civil society, pushing critical voices further into the shadows.
This tool’s arrival echoes a broader trend of digital authoritarianism on the continent, where surveillance is weaponized to suppress dissent. But resistance is possible. Civil society must push for transparency and legal safeguards that protect digital rights. International allies must hold governments accountable, and tech platforms must enhance protections for vulnerable users.

As Kuchu Times, we reaffirm our commitment to amplifying LGBTQ voices and resisting all forms of state-sanctioned censorship. Our liberation depends on a free, open, and secure internet for all.