KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s media landscape is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history as digital platforms increasingly replace traditional news channels (print, radio, and television) as the primary source of information for millions of citizens.
Driven by the rapid spread of mobile phones, expanding internet access and the explosive growth of social media, the digital media revolution is reshaping journalism, political engagement and everyday public discourse, particularly among the country’s youthful population.
Recent research by Vivid Voice News’ Michael Wandati shows that digital media is rapidly becoming the preferred news source for citizens under 35.
In Uganda, this shift is especially pronounced: more than 70 percent of the country’s internet users fall between the ages of 15 and 35, reflecting a generational pivot in how information is consumed, shared, and debated.
At the core of this change is the rise of digital platforms; news websites, social media networks, and mobile-based content services, that are technologically driven, highly interactive, and designed to connect users while enabling them to perform specific tasks such as sharing, commenting, publishing, and mobilising.
While these platforms have expanded access to information, they have also introduced new tensions, as traditional news organisations struggle to maintain editorial independence amid growing influence from technology companies and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in news production.
Internet and mobile growth fuel the shift
Uganda’s digital expansion mirrors global trends but is powered by uniquely local dynamics. Improved connectivity, falling data costs, and widespread mobile phone ownership have driven the country’s rapid digital adoption.
By January 2025, Uganda had approximately 36.8 million active mobile connections, covering more than three-quarters of the population.
During the same period, 14.2 million people were using the internet, representing 28 percent national penetration, while 2.4 million social media identities accounted for nearly 5 percent of the population.
This growth marks a dramatic increase from 2018, when Uganda recorded just two million internet users and 300,000 social media accounts.
Government figures show that internet penetration climbed from 0.2 percent in 2008 to nearly 59 percent in 2023, driven largely by mobile broadband expansion and the extension of undersea fibre-optic cables across the country.
However, this digital progress remains uneven. Nearly half of Ugandans, particularly in rural communities, still lack reliable devices and stable internet access, a divide that continues to limit participation in online education, economic opportunity, and civic engagement.
Social media becomes the new public square
Social media has become the engine of Uganda’s digital media ecosystem.
Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and online news portals now function as the country’s primary spaces for public conversation.
TikTok alone has attracted more than five million Ugandan users, while social media increasingly serves as the main pathway through which audiences reach news content.
For a predominantly youthful population, these platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for self-expression, political engagement, and citizen journalism, allowing ordinary Ugandans to contribute directly to national conversations.
This integration has also transformed traditional media. Legacy outlets have responded by establishing strong online presences, launching mobile applications, livestreaming content, and distributing digital editions of newspapers.
Major broadcasters and publishers; including NBS, Vision Group, Daily Monitor, and New Vision—now operate across both traditional and digital platforms, creating a hybrid media environment where each channel reinforces the other.
The relationship is mutually beneficial: social media amplifies stories that might otherwise be overlooked, while traditional outlets provide credibility and original reporting that fuel online discussions.
Lower barriers, new business models
Digital publishing has significantly lowered the cost of entry into journalism.
Unlike print and broadcast operations, online platforms require minimal infrastructure, enabling the rapid growth of independent news outlets and niche publications.
Also Read: How Michael Wandati is redefining independent journalism in a noisy digital world
To survive financially, many of these platforms have adopted advertising-based revenue models similar to those of traditional media.
Others have introduced subscription services and paywalls, while some rely on partnerships, sponsored content, and bundled advertising packages that combine online and offline exposure.
Political influence and government oversight
Since Uganda’s 2016 elections, digital platforms have become central to political campaigning and civic engagement.
Candidates now reach voters directly through online channels, bypassing conventional gatekeepers and allowing lesser-known figures to compete for public attention.
This shift has expanded political participation but has also prompted growing government interest in regulating the digital space.
Authorities increasingly view online media both as an economic engine and as a powerful tool of political mobilisation, one that requires oversight, and at times, restraint.
A media landscape still in motion
Uganda’s digital media revolution is far from complete. While the country has made remarkable progress in expanding access to information and empowering citizens, persistent inequalities in connectivity continue to shape who benefits from the digital age.
What is clear, however, is that the future of Ugandan journalism will be written online.
As technology evolves and audiences continue to migrate to digital platforms, the nation’s media institutions, both old and new, are being compelled to innovate, adapt, and redefine the meaning of public communication in the 21st century.
