Facebook takes action to avert fraud in Ugandan elections

The social media giant has allegedly shut a slew of fake accounts belonging to Ugandan government officials. These accounts are reportedly being used by these officials to manipulate public debate and to influence opinion ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.

The build up to the election so far has been very tense and there are fears that post-election crisis might engulf the country no matter what the results turn out to be.

Facebook has shut down numerous accounts linked to Uganda’s Information Ministry, days before the East African nation is due to hold presidential elections.

“This month, we removed a network of accounts and pages in Uganda that engaged in CIB (Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour) to target public debate ahead of the election,” Facebook’s head of communication for sub-Saharan Africa, Kezia Anim-Addo, said in an email on Monday.

According to the information, many government individuals use multiple accounts through which they manage pages, comment on posts and re-share propaganda posts.

In the upcoming elections, longtime president, 76-year-old Yoweri Museveni will be facing vibrant artist-turned politician, Bobi Wine, 38.

Recently emerging as the main threat to Museveni, Bobi Wine’s cosign trail so far has been marked by violence and countless arrests. The emblematic parliamentarian has been faced with series of trials and tortures.

He has stood up strong against the iron fist of President Museveni and so far looks like a worthy challenger. Thousands of Ugandans are hoping that Bobi Wine will be the person to finally take them out of the dictatorial regime of Yoweri Museveni.