TAKEAWAYS

• AI content moderation: The government is exploring AI technology to identify and filter certain prohibited words on digital platforms.
• Content creator warning: Justine Kasule Lumumba has criticised the use of vulgar language to attract online attention.
• Questions remain: The system’s cost, implementation timeline, enforcement process and reported penalties have not been independently confirmed.

Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, has warned content creators against using vulgar language to attract attention online, saying the government is pursuing technology that could help detect and filter inappropriate content on digital platforms.

Appearing on Bukedde television, Lumumba said some content creators had made the use of obscene language a common feature of their content in the pursuit of popularity and online engagement.

The minister said the government was looking at artificial intelligence (AI) as part of efforts to address the problem, with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) reportedly working towards procuring a system that can identify and filter certain words before they are distributed online.

“UCC is in the process of procuring a system that will help us to be able to, especially using AI, to be able to remove certain words, to disperse certain words that should not come out like it is done in other countries,” Lumumba said.

The proposal comes amid growing concerns about sexually explicit material and offensive language on social media, particularly where such content is accessible to young audiences.

According to the account of the minister’s remarks, the proposed technology would recognise vulgar words in Uganda’s different local languages and help prevent their distribution online.

The account further claims that users would receive warnings for repeated violations, with a fourth offence potentially resulting in the deletion of a SIM card, user registration and account. It also describes a system that would produce a warning sound during the first instances of prohibited language.

However, these specific technical details and the alleged four-strike enforcement process have not been independently confirmed. The government and UCC would need to clarify how the system would operate, which platforms it would cover, how violations would be established and what procedures users would have to challenge enforcement decisions.

The minister has also indicated that the government is prepared to invest substantial resources in technology to address inappropriate online content. The specific cost, implementation schedule and funding arrangements for the proposed system have not been established in the available reporting.

Lumumba has also warned media organisations against publishing information without verifying its accuracy, signalling that responsible reporting remains an important part of the wider debate about online content.

The warning comes at a time when information spreads rapidly across social media platforms, sometimes before its accuracy has been established.

Ugandan social media platforms have become important spaces for entertainment, public debate and business promotion. However, concerns about obscene language and sexually explicit material have also fuelled calls for stronger content moderation.