GOVERNMENT | FACEBOOK | BLOCKAGE

KAMPALA - Government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo has asked social media giant, Facebook to explain why they blocked accounts of a section of Ugandans online who are pro-government accounts. 

Opondo, who was addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, rubbished the company’s explanations as ‘blatant lies’ noting that most of the blocked accounts belong to people who are still in existence. 

In its media release on Monday (January 11, 2020), Facebook said it blocked the accounts after they found that a network connection with the ministry of information had been using fake and duplicate accounts to impersonate users and boost the popularity of posts. 

“We found this network to be linked to the government Citizens Interaction Center at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology in Uganda. They used fake and duplicate accounts to manage pages, comment on other people's content, impersonate users, re-share posts in groups to make them appear more popular than they were," Facebook said in a statement. 

In response, Opondo said, “We didn’t know that reputable organizations like Facebook and Twitter could tell blatant lies but I dare them. 95% of these accounts are in existence and are owned by living individuals.” 

He said the accounts are traceable and all Facebook had to do, in case of doubt, was to write to government and the Ministry of information to furnish them with proof of existence. 

“We conclude that this must have been election mischief in an attempt to subvert or influence the ongoing election in the directions that is against the government or the NRM. We demand that Facebook, Twitter and Instagram write officially to these individuals,” he said. 

He asked Facebook to also write to government institutions cited in their media statement to explain why, without applying the rule of natural justice and the right to a fair hearing to the affected individuals, they blocked the accounts. 

Majority of the affected individuals are NRM social media strategists, online media outlet-Chimp reports- and NRM leaning journalists. 

Opondo assured the company that the country will hold a credible election despite the social media blockage.