“When You Do Journalism in Uganda, You Instinctively Avoid Covering Certain Stories.” Journalistic Tales of Fear in an Era of Digital Authoritarianism

This study examines how mainstream journalists in Uganda perceive and respond to digital authoritarianism. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 14 reporters and editors, the study explores the socioeconomic, legal, and technological factors shaping these perceptions. Findings indicate that journalists view state deployment of digital technologies as a threat to press freedom, freedom of expression, and other fundamental rights. However, economic precarity, political interference in media ownership, and restrictive regulatory environments limit journalists’ ability to resist or circumvent digital repression. The study argues that socioeconomic and political considerations are central to understanding both the construction of digital authoritarianism and its impact on journalism in Uganda.