Masindi politicians fall prey to cyber harassment, call for urgent digital literacy

MASINDI, December 16, 2025 — Politicians in Masindi District are increasingly becoming targets of cyber harassment, facing hacking attempts, intimidation and elaborate online romance scams.

The worrying trend has sparked calls for intensified digital literacy and awareness campaigns to protect public figures and the wider community.

Nelda Asaba, the District Female Councillor for Bwijanga and Bulima, told theCooperator News that some men exploit women’s political ambitions to initiate unwanted online advances.

“They pretend they want to support you or claim they have fallen in love with you. They start sending unnecessary messages, including pornographic material. When you are not careful, you become a victim,” Asaba said, stressing the need for comprehensive training to combat digital harassment.

Another female politician, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she had received sexually explicit messages and later fell victim to a phishing scam. Her WhatsApp account was hacked after she unknowingly opened a malicious link.

The challenge extends beyond politicians. In 2019, several Masindi residents, including local leaders and business owners, were defrauded through a fake digital marketing scheme in which participants were persuaded to buy virtual coins that later disappeared along with their investments.

These concerns were raised during an annual Gender-Based Violence [GBV] and Women’s Rights Organisation [WRO] close-out meeting organised by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE). The event was held in line with the 2025 16 Days of Activism campaign, themed “Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”

Detective Gertrude Akuumu, the Officer in Charge of the GBV Desk at Masindi Central Police Station, confirmed a rise in cyber harassment cases. She urged the public to be cautious when receiving calls or clicking on links from unknown sources.

Experts at the meeting also equipped leaders with practical skills in account management, password protection and detecting hacking attempts.

Timothy Tumwesige, the District Councillor for Budongo, cited ignorance and the lure of “free and quick” online offers as major causes of vulnerability.

“Whenever you chase free things on the internet, you are likely to be robbed. These trainings must be extended to villages because many people now own smartphones, but the challenge lies in how to use them,” he said.

Clare Wamara, Masindi District Labour Officer, noted that many residents lack awareness of their digital rights and existing internet laws in Uganda.

The district plans to sustain sensitisation campaigns, strengthen partnerships with stakeholders and advocate for increased budgetary allocation towards digital skills training.

Although GBV cases have slightly reduced due to intensified awareness efforts, 139 cases were recorded in the last financial year. Since January, 64 cases have been reported, with 33 concluded.

Annet Karamagi, the District Probation and Welfare Officer, warned that cases could rise during the current political period.

Moreen Kyomuhendo, FOWODE’s Masindi Programme Officer, said the meeting aimed to strengthen district-level GBV prevention and response mechanisms.

GBV remains a significant challenge in Uganda. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS] 2021 national survey, 95 percent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence.

Further, the 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey found that 23 percent of women experienced physical violence and 11 percent sexual violence in the preceding 12 months. In 2024, Uganda Police recorded 14,681 cases of domestic violence, including defilement and rape.

https://thecooperator.news/ulc-begins-digital-inventory-of-government-land-in-mbale/

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