Women face online attacks in Uganda electionsCEFR A2
16 Feb 2026
Adapted from Prudence Nyamishana, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Andrew Itaga, Unsplash
Women have played a long part in Uganda’s politics. The constitution introduced affirmative action and reserves seats for women at local and national levels. In January 2026 many women ran in the general elections.
During the campaign several women were targeted online. Attacks included AI-made images, fake videos and sexual insults. For example, Nawaya Gloria said she is HIV‑positive and faced abusive online replies. Other candidates saw rumours and deepfakes about their health or behaviour. A UN Women report says most Ugandan women have experienced physical or sexual violence, and technology has made political participation harder for women.
Difficult words
- constitution — A country's main set of laws.
- affirmative action — Policies to help groups with less power.
- reserve — To keep something for a particular person.reserves
- target — To aim actions at a particular person.targeted
- deepfake — A fake image or video made by AI.deepfakes
- abusive — Using rude or violent words to hurt someone.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might online attacks stop women from taking part in politics?
- How could social media companies help protect candidates from abuse?
- Have you ever seen a fake image or video online? What did you do?
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