Uganda Law Society (ULS) president Isaac Ssemakadde has defended the growing use of social media activism, arguing that online campaigns have become an important tool for holding government officials accountable.
Mr Ssemakadde said critics who question why activists and commentators spend much of their time writing on social media rather than appearing physically at public events should consider the influence such platforms now wield over government decisions.
“People keep asking us, ‘Why are you always writing? Why don’t you come on the ground?’” Mr Ssemakadde said.
He challenged those questioning the effectiveness of online activism to examine the reaction of government institutions whenever an issue gains significant attention on social media.
“If social media is doing nothing, why does it put the entire government under pressure?” he asked.
According to Mr Ssemakadde, public officials increasingly respond to issues after they begin trending online, particularly when citizens use social media to highlight problems that might otherwise receive limited attention.
He argued that the ability of ordinary citizens to document and share information has changed the relationship between the public and government, giving people another avenue through which to demand answers.
“Why do government officials respond when an issue starts trending? Why do they suddenly act when citizens expose problems online?” he asked.
Mr Ssemakadde said social media has become a powerful accountability platform because it can rapidly amplify individual concerns and place them before a much wider audience.
“Social media is a powerful tool for accountability. It amplifies the voices of ordinary citizens and makes it harder for issues to be ignored,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing reliance on digital platforms by Ugandans seeking to draw attention to governance, human rights and social issues. Online campaigns have increasingly become a means of mobilising public opinion and demanding responses from state institutions.
Mr Ssemakadde maintained that writing and raising issues online should not be dismissed as inaction, arguing that the pressure generated through digital platforms can translate into real-world consequences.
“So, if you think those of us who write on social media are doing nothing, look at what is happening now. The pressure is real. The impact is real. And the government knows it,” he said.
The ULS president's comments underline the expanding role of social media in Uganda's public discourse, where citizens can now rapidly organise, scrutinise government actions and demand accountability beyond traditional public forums.