Evidence And Methods Lab

Welcome back online. We condole with those who lost family members and commiserate with those who were affected negatively in any way by the events this past week.

While you were away, we were busy documenting and analyzing the events. Here is one of our reports covering 72 hours from January 13, 2026 to the closure of voting on January 15, 2026.

Similar analytical pieces can we found on our digital channels and more will be released in the coming days.

🇺🇬 🗳️ How did Ugandans experience the 72 hours of the 2026 elections, in the "dark"?

During the critical Jan 13-15 period, Uganda experienced widespread internet shutdown, pre-election crackdowns on critics, arrests, significant electoral irregularities, killings and logistical failures.

We analyze all critical digital conversations and posts in that timeframe to produce an analysis that offers multi-platform documentation, amplifying authentic citizen voices and experiences, revealing violations and the profound impact on digital rights and democratic processes.

Discover the full scope of the citizen experiences and vital lessons for upholding democratic principles in the digital age.

📊 Full Report: shorturl.at/IYvUh
📝 Blog: shorturl.at/OoDAX

🇺🇬 🗳️ How did Ugandans experience the 72 hours of the 2026 elections, in the "dark"?

During the critical Jan 13-15 period, Uganda experienced widespread internet shutdown, pre-election crackdowns on critics, arrests, significant electoral irregularities, killings and logistical failures.

We analyze all critical digital conversations and posts in that timeframe to produce an analysis that offers multi-platform documentation, amplifying authentic citizen voices and experiences, revealing violations and the profound impact on digital rights and democratic processes.

Discover the full scope of the citizen experiences and vital lessons for upholding democratic principles in the digital age.

📊 Full Report: shorturl.at/IYvUh
📝 Blog: shorturl.at/OoDAX

As Uganda is preparing for the 2026 elections, understanding how ready citizens are to participate is important.

Take part in the voter readiness survey to gather insights on how people understand the voting process, where they access election-related information, and the challenges that may limit individual or community participation.

The survey is independent, voluntary, and confidential.
Take a few minutes to participate here: https://shorturl.at/xoGZu Or scan the QR code.

As Uganda is preparing for the 2026 elections, understanding how ready citizens are to participate is important.

Take part in the voter readiness survey to gather insights on how people understand the voting process, where they access election-related information, and the challenges that may limit individual or community participation.

The survey is independent, voluntary, and confidential.
Take a few minutes to participate here: https://shorturl.at/xoGZu Or scan the QR code.

We Shape Gov / Citizen Letters | Evidence & Methods Lab Evidence & Methods Lab – advancing evidence-based practice.

Across Uganda, millions of people rely on public services every day — from hospitals and schools to registration (passport, land) offices, police stations, courts etc. Yet structured citizen feedback remains limited, leaving leaders without the insights they need to improve services and leaving citizens without a collective voice for engagement as feedback is often fragmented as random rants online or in private conversations that don’t read people who should act.
At Evidence and Methods Lab (EML), our work focuses on closing this gap.

Through the programme we curate citizen voices, promote meaningful public engagement, and connect people to the institutions that shape their everyday lives.. Its two flagship initiatives are Faayo — an AI-enabled feedback platform that gathers real-time citizen experiences at service points — and Citizen Letters, which collects handwritten letters from communities and brings those experiences directly to leaders and the public.

Together, they turn lived experiences into actionable evidence for service improvement.
We are now gathering nationwide feedback from people who have accessed a public service recently. If you’ve visited a hospital, school, court, registration office, or any public institution, your experience matters.

Share your feedback here: https://shorturl.at/lq47O
The feedback will be anonymized, analyzed, and shared with relevant institutions to support better service delivery.
Your voice strengthens service delivery in Uganda and contributes to the regional learning we apply in the countries where will continue expanding.

As we come to an end of the 16 days of Activism, staying safe online starts with simple and intentional habits is important. From enabling 2FA and using strong passwords to blocking harmful users and taking digital breaks, small actions can make a big difference in protecting your digital space.

When digital abuse happens, knowing how to respond to matters is important. Block immediately. Report the abuse. Save evidence. Seek support.

Digital abuse is real harm. Let’s equip ourselves and our communities with the tools to stay safe, support survivors, and promote healthier online spaces.

Share your experience or insights through our short survey: https://evidenceandmethodslab.org/survey/online-gbv-awareness-assessment

Are we doing enough to ensure that everyone feels safe and protected in digital spaces?

Digital spaces offer incredible opportunities for connection, expression, and participation, but they also present new forms of harm. However, Digital Gender-Based Violence (DGBV) is one of the fastest-growing threats to safety online, affecting how women, girls, and marginalized groups participate in public life.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism, Evidence and Methods Lab is breaking down what DGBV looks like from cyberstalking and harassment to doxxing, deepfakes, sextortion, and image-based abuse. We are also highlighting the signs to look out for, key steps for responding to digital abuse, and practical tips for staying safe online.

DGBV is not only a personal threat; it is a barrier to meaningful participation, leadership, and digital inclusion. Understanding these risks helps us build safer platforms, strengthen policy and advocacy, and support survivors with empathy and accountability.

Let’s work together to make digital spaces safer, more equitable, and more empowering for everyone.

Who is the strategist, helping journalists and citizens push back against misinformation and defend democracy?

Meet Mahmoud Hadhoud, Chief Strategic Officer at Open Transformation Lab and Obama Foundation Scholar, working across the MENA region to empower journalists and promote democracy-oriented storytelling.

In our first Podcast episode, Ahmad joins Michael to explore how civic participation, media, and citizen power come together to shape better governance. Stay tuned for the full episode coming soon.

What if citizenship was more than a status on paper, but a story we live every day?

Something new is landing in your feed next week. The podcast is a documentary-style conversation series that explores what citizenship looks like in everyday life and transforms the relationship between citizens and public institutions through visual storytelling.

It follows the real experiences of people as they navigate public services, and the institutions meant to serve them.

Launching soon. Are you ready to rethink what citizenship looks like where you live?