The role of social media in spreading fake news in Uganda
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Date
2026-05-26
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This research study examines the role of social media in spreading fake news in Uganda with specific attention to the causes, patterns, impacts and responses to misinformation within the country. The study is guided by clearly defined research objectives and research questions that focus on how fake news spreads on social media platforms, the impact of fake news on public opinion and behavior and the roles of key stakeholders in combating misinformation in Uganda.
Chapter One presents the background of the study. It highlights the growth of social media in Uganda and the increasing challenge of fake news. It describes the study's problem statement, goals, questions, scope, importance and rationale. The theoretical framework, which is based on Social Cognitive Theory is also introduced in this chapter. It describes how social reinforcement, imitation and observation affect how people share knowledge on social media. in keeping with the goals of the study, Chapter Two examines pertinent literature from local, regional and worldwide contexts. It looks at definitions and types of fake news, how false information spreads on social media, how fake news affects public opinion and behavior and what social media companies, government agencies and civil society organizations are doing to fight fake news in Uganda. Additionally, it highlights the gaps in previous research that this study aims to fill.
The research methodology used to address the research questions and accomplish the study's goals is described in Chapter 3. It outlines the study's population and geographic scope, sampling strategies, data gathering procedures and ethical considerations. In addition to content analysis of specific false news situations that have been confirmed by reputable fact-checking groups, the data was gathered via online survey questionnaires given to social media users, journalists, and legislators. The results of the study are presented and interpreted in Chapter Four in light of the research questions and objectives. It examines the respondents' demographics, social media usage habits, exposure to false information, methods of verification and opinions on the effects of false information in Uganda. The results show that political misinformation is the most prevalent type of fake news on social media platforms, although Ugandan users' verification procedures are still uneven. A summary of the study's key findings, a pertinent conclusion, and recommendations are presented in Chapter 5. In order to improve the spread of fake news in Uganda, it shows why it is important and necessary to improve media literacy, stronger support for fact-checking initiatives, to increase accountability by social media platforms and to have a coordinated multi-stakeholder approach that involves the government, civil society, media organizations and individual users of social media.
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Undergraduate