Abstract
This chapter draws on experiences from Uganda to interrogate social media’s potential to facilitate women’s participation in electoral processes. By taking the Pads4Girls campaign in the aftermath of the Ugandan 2016 election as a case, the chapter examines how social media can contribute to political change and electoral democracy. Social media’s potential in public communication has been demonstrated during elections globally and in heightened political situations in Uganda. Some of the most vibrant debates in Uganda were on Facebook and Twitter during the 2011 and 2016 elections and their aftermath. The data were collected through analysis of Facebook content about the Pads4Girls campaign and interviewing. The chapter builds on debates about media and gender and argues that social media facilitate conversation on electoral matters but their role depends on the context within which they are applied. The Pads4Girls campaign ended with the imprisonment of its architect over cyber harassment.
This chapter is made possible by the support of Norwegian Directorate for Development Cooperation (NORAD), through the Norhed project Bridging Gaps.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
https://www.facebook.com/Pads4GirlsUg/, accessed 12.10.2018.
- 3.
https://www.facebook.com/stella.nyanzi/posts/10155002229535053, accessed 12.10.2018.
- 4.
Internet World Stats: At http://www.internetworldstats.com/africa.htm, accessed 09.01.2017.
- 5.
Protest against the rising cost of living in April 2011.
- 6.
It is deemed the first social media election in Uganda’s history. See http://www.voanews.com/a/social-media-young-voices-uganda-election-campaign/3195260.html. Accessed 30.09.2016.
- 7.
- 8.
Presidential handshake is regarded in Uganda as corruption.
- 9.
Abbreviations
- CID:
-
Criminal Investigations Department
- DP:
-
Democratic Party
- FB:
-
Facebook
- FDC:
-
Forum for Democratic Change
- MHM:
-
Menstrual Hygiene Management
- UN:
-
United Nations
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Pads4Girls Campaign strategist, Kampala 15 November 2018.
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Namasinga Selnes, F., Orgeret, K.S. (2020). Women and Election Activism in Uganda: The Pads4Girls Social Media Campaign. In: Ndlela, M., Mano, W. (eds) Social Media and Elections in Africa, Volume 2. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32682-1_3
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