Controlling consent, dealing with dissent, and planting misinformation: how the Museveni regime stifled Bobi Wine's youth movement in Uganda

Abstract

ABSTRACT After Uganda embraced electoral democracy in 1996, a trend emerged where Ugandans between 18 and 35 do not turn out to vote in large numbers. Although the country is astonishingly young, Ugandan youth had long shown little interest in politics and were less likely to run for public positions compared to older Ugandans. However, the meteoric rise of Bobi Wine has inspired many young Ugandans to engage in local and national politics as first-time voters, party members, cash contributors, protesters and foot soldiers. This article explains how the rise of Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, a popular singer turned opponent of President Museveni, has inspired an upsurge in youth political participation in Uganda. The article posits that, to contain a growing youth-led movement, the Museveni regime largely relied on coercion, which has thus far proved counterproductive. The more coercion is employed the more it aggravates the backlash from and determination of young Ugandans to mobilise against Museveni’s rule. The response from the regime has been a mixture of repression, disinformation and disenfranchisement of young voters.