By Juliet Nanfuka | Globally, in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID19), social media has played various roles, such as  filling information vacuums and providing channels for citizens to demand accountability and transparency. In Uganda, the government and other agencies have utilised social media as one of the avenues for disseminating information […] Read more

Statement | To mark World Press Freedom Day 2020, the Collaboration on International ICT for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) joined the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), numerous GFMD members, the International Civil Society Organization on the Safety of Journalists Coalition (ICSO SoJ Coalition), partners, and affiliate networks in launching an emergency appeal for journalism […] Read more

By Daniel Mwesigwa | Many African governments have employed heavy-handed methods in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. These measures, both offline and online, have undermined various rights and there are fears that they might be entrenched after the pandemic subsides. In response, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly  has  issued […] Read more

Open Letter | As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, the importance of  technology platforms and their real world impact has never been clearer. The various platforms are being used to communicate, assemble, research the virus, provide mutual aid, and more. This statement notes that many platforms have increased their reliance on automated content moderation […] Read more

By Paul Kimumwe | While the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to ravage the world, there is growing concern that critical messages about the disease that are disseminated by health authorities, telecom companies, and broadcasters are not reaching persons with visual and hearing impairments. In order to create public awareness about the pandemic, African governments are […] Read more

By Center for Human Rights and CIPESA | The study on Civil society in the digital age in Africa: identifying threats and mounting pushbacks was undertaken by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria and the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) to explore the extent of state-sponsored digital challenges that the civil society […] Read more

Joint Statement | The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health emergency that requires a coordinated and large-scale response by governments worldwide. However, States’ efforts to contain the virus must not be used as a cover to usher in a new era of greatly expanded systems of invasive digital surveillance. We, the undersigned organizations, urge […] Read more

By CIPESA staff | As the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to spread globally, various African governments have imposed sweeping measures such as travel bans, curfews, prohibition of mass gatherings, mandatory quarantines, closure of learning institutions, entertainment spots and borders to curb the pandemic. Some of these measures have boosted the use of digital technologies. But […] Read more

By CIPESA staff | As the world grapples to contain the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to enhance disease surveillance, coordinate response mechanisms, and promote public awareness has become more significant. This role of digital technologies is particularly crucial in sub-Saharan Africa where systemic vulnerabilities such as weak […] Read more

By WomenAtWebUg | Efforts to improve digital rights and digital literacy among more women in Africa should be supported by a thorough understanding of the online and offline social structures that influence the extent to which women can be active participants in the digital arena. This is key to realising Goal five of the Sustainable […] Read more