Protecting the Rights, Safety, and Dignity of Structurally Silenced Communities in Uganda’s Online Spaces.

The digital world has increasingly become a vital space for expression, organizing, and connection but for structurally silenced womxn and marginalized communities in Uganda, it is also a space of risk. What should be a tool for empowerment often turns into a site of harm, where online harassment, privacy violations, and surveillance target those already marginalized in offline life.

Through the Digital Safety and Resilience Project support by UHAI EASHRI, HER Internet has worked closely with structurally silenced communities, sex workers, and other marginalized groups across Uganda including Western Uganda, Greater Masaka, Eastern Uganda, Northern Uganda, and Kampala to understand and respond to these realities. The stories shared by community members reveal both the weight of digital risks and the resilience of those confronting them head-on.

“As Uganda approaches the 2026 general elections, the online environment is becoming increasingly volatile,” explained the Programs Director, Diana Karungi, during the project’s closing webinar. “For structurally silenced communities, the internet remains both a lifeline and a battleground, a place to connect, but also a space where fear, silencing, and violence take root.”

The Reality of Digital Threats; Across all the regions, community members reported coordinated campaigns targeting them with insults, deactivation of social media accounts, body shaming, and politically motivated attacks, often amplified by social media platforms like TikTok, X formally known as Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Tech-facilitated gender-based violence, such as non-consensual sharing of intimate imagery, blackmail, and extortion, was a common concern, particularly for content creators and activists. 

For many, what begins as a simple post can quickly become a source of fear and trauma of being publicly outed online, or losing jobs and housing after private or political opinions were leaked. During one session, a community member from Greater Masaka shared that “my ex-partner shared my photos without my consent and I lived in fear for weeks now.”

Privacy and surveillance risks were also widespread. Community members often faced unauthorized access to devices, spyware, phishing scams, and, in some cases, surveillance by state or non-state actors. These threats often led to self-censorship, deactivation of social media accounts, and disengagement from digital advocacy to protect personal safety. A community member from Northern Uganda who had vied for a political position shared that “When I posted about my interest in leadership in my community, false stories about me spread online and then I was attacked physically.”

Shared devices, lack of digital literacy, and limited access to secure communication tools further compounded vulnerabilities, leaving communities exposed to exploitation and intimidation. In Eastern Uganda, another participant shared that “My smartphone is a community shareable phone with members in my village because they helped me pay off the loan.”

Others described facing phishing scams, SIM card swapping, and blackmail through platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok. One participant shared how her account was taken over after clicking on a fake campaign link. “I lost access to my WhatsApp account for weeks because I clicked on link that was shared in some group that I am in.” she said.

These lived experiences reveal a pattern: the internet is both an essential tool for advocacy and a source of profound vulnerability.

Community Empowerment in Practice; Through HER Internet’s hands-on workshops and peer learning sessions, over 160 community members were equipped with the knowledge and confidence to take control of their digital safety. They learned to secure devices, detect scams, and use privacy-enhancing tools, while also recognizing that safety is not just a personal effort but a collective responsibility. 

Speaking during the closing webinar, Elvis Ayesiga from UHAI commended the project’s impact and reaffirmed the importance of community-led approaches to safety. “I want to thank HER Internet team for your outstanding leadership in achieving this initiative for the community that is always available online or violated online, your dedication to building inclusive, safe digital space has been inspiration.”

He went on to emphasize that the fight for digital safety extends beyond just the tools, it’s about ownership, resilience, and community-driven change “Digital spaces are where we now live, work, and advocate,” he said. “But they are also places of harm, especially for queer and sex worker communities. That’s why initiatives like this are so important, they equip people with tools and confidence to navigate these spaces safely. When communities lead their own safety strategies, the impact is deeper and more sustainable.” 

The project also set up a Digital Safety Support Desk during the sessions that happened in Kampala, where community members could get real-time help with device security, account recovery, and malware removal. This hands-on approach made the training deeply practical and personal. One participant from Fort Portal said, “I share my smartphone with community members, so I never felt my privacy was mine. Now I know how to protect my apps and personal data even when my device is being shared.” 

Launching “Secure Voices”: A Manual for Collective Digital Safety; The project culminated in the launch of Secure Voices: A Community Manual for Digital Safety, Privacy, and Care, a resource developed by HER Internet to empower structurally silenced communities to take charge of their digital wellbeing.The manual offers simple, step-by-step guidance on everything from secure communication and password protection to responding to online harassment and protecting personal data. It also reflects the lived experiences and practical wisdom of community members who participated in the trainings.

“Secure Voices reminds us that digital safety isn’t something we do alone,” said Mulungi Sanyu the Communications and Advocacy Director at HER Internet at the launch webinar. “It’s a shared practice.”

The launch, held virtually with partners, community members and human rights defenders from across Uganda, marked a significant milestone in HER Internet’s seven-year journey of advocating for digital rights and feminist digital inclusion. As the virtual crowd counted down to seven, the screen lit up with emojis, balloons, and messages of celebration, a fitting symbol of resilience and collective joy. As Elvis concluded in his remarks, “As you launch today’s manual, let us not just on share it as a resource, but look at it as a symbol of collective care.” For those who wish to access or share it, the manual is freely available for download at: https://www.herinternet.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Secure-Voices-manual.pdf

A Call to Collective Action; In a world where the internet can be a source of liberation or a site of harm, projects like HER Internet’s Digital Safety and Resilience initiative show that education, advocacy, and collective care can transform online spaces into safer, more inclusive environments. By equipping structurally silenced womxn and marginalized groups with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate online threats, we are fostering not just safer digital spaces, but a stronger culture of care, equity, and empowerment across Uganda. HER Internet continues to stand with communities, advocating for digital rights, safety, and the dignity of all voices online. Together, we can create a digital world that is equitable, inclusive, and free from fear.