Stop the dangerous game of social media violence

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OPINION

By Frank M. Gashumba

Social media is a good platform to network, find opportunities and sell products and services. However, a disturbing trend has emerged.

A section of Ugandans, mostly opposition supporters, are using it to incite violence, spread hatred and destabilise the nation.

They target people at social events like weddings and burials, among others. They insult everyone who doesn’t subscribe to their views and even those who associate with a leader that doesn’t believe in their ideology. It is even more disturbing that the leaders in opposition don’t condemn this radical approach to politics. While healthy political discourse is the bedrock of democracy, the reckless behaviour of some opposition elements has crossed the line into dangerous territory.

Social media, a tool meant for connection and enlightenment, has been hijacked by opposition supporters to fuel chaos. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp have become battlegrounds where misinformation, tribal vitriol and calls for violence are disseminated at alarming speed. Anonymous accounts and fake profiles amplify divisive rhetoric, often with the deliberate intent to provoke unrest.

This is not activism; it is arson. When opposition supporters circulate doctored images, false claims of government brutality or calls for “revolution”, they are not fighting for justice — they are playing with fire. The consequences are real: streets turn into war zones, businesses are looted and innocent lives are lost.

Many of these opposition voices claim to champion democracy, yet their actions betray a blatant disregard for the rule of law. They condemn state violence while glorifying mob justice. They demand accountability from the Government while absolving their own ranks of any wrongdoing. This hypocrisy undermines their credibility and exposes their true motive: power at any cost.

A true democrat engages in constructive criticism, not destructive incitement. If opposition leaders genuinely cared about Uganda’s future, they would rein in their supporters and condemn violence unequivocally. Instead, some turn a blind eye — or worse, tacitly endorse the chaos — hoping to capitalise on the instability.

The most immediate impact of social media-fuelled violence is the destruction it leaves in its wake. Uganda has seen too many instances where online hate spills into real-world bloodshed. Families mourn loved ones caught in the crossfire, while businesses — many owned by ordinary citizens — are reduced to ashes. Uganda is a diverse nation with over 56 tribes. Social media violence often takes on an ethnic dimension, with opposition factions exploiting tribal fault lines to sow division. This toxic rhetoric threatens to undo decades of relative cohesion, replacing it with suspicion and hostility.

Investors and development partners watch closely. When Uganda appears unstable due to politically motivated violence, confidence wavers. Jobs are lost, the economy suffers and the nation’s progress is derailed — all because a few reckless individuals prioritise chaos over the country. Ironically, the very violence opposition supporters incite often justifies heavy-handed state responses. Security forces, faced with escalating unrest, may resort to extreme measures, further polarising the nation. The Opposition then uses these crackdowns to fuel more anger, creating a vicious cycle of instability.

Who benefits from this chaos? Not the ordinary Ugandan struggling to feed their family. Not the student whose education is disrupted by riots. The winners are those who seek power through destruction rather than ideas. The Opposition must take accountability. If they genuinely oppose violence, they must:

Publicly denounce and discipline supporters who incite unrest.

Promote fact-based discourse instead of sensationalism.

Use their platforms to advocate peaceful change, not anarchy.

To the youth being manipulated: Think critically. Social media rewards outrage, but real change requires strategy, patience and wisdom. Do not be pawns in a game that leaves you with nothing.

Uganda’s future should not be held hostage by a vocal minority hell-bent on destruction. Democracy thrives on debate, not demagoguery; on ideas, not intimidation. The Opposition must choose either to be part of the solution or continue down this reckless path. The choice is theirs — but the consequences belong to us all.

The writer is chairman Council for Abavandimwe and vice-chairman PLU-central region