A video circulating on social media, claiming to show Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni visiting street children in Kampala, has been debunked as false. The clip, which shows 'Museveni' distributing items to individuals sleeping on the streets, was allegedly made at 2 a.m. However, a thorough investigation by PesaCheck has revealed that the video does not feature the President.
PesaCheck conducted a Google Lens search on a keyframe from the clip, which led to the discovery that the video is, in fact, a skit posted by the Ugandan comedy duo Sammie and Shawa. This finding was further confirmed by Faruk Kirunda, the deputy press secretary to President Museveni, who told PesaCheck that the clip does not show the President.
The fact-checking organisation, PesaCheck, has been working to identify and correct misinformation on social media platforms, including Facebook. Through partnerships with these platforms, PesaCheck aims to provide the public with accurate information and context about posts they encounter in their social media feeds. This particular fact-check is part of PesaCheck's ongoing efforts to verify the authenticity of content marked as potential misinformation.
PesaCheck's managing editor, Doreen Wainainah, approved the article for publication, which was written by senior PesaCheck fact-checker Pius Enywaru and edited by senior copy editor Mary Mutisya and chief copy editor Stephen Ndegwa. The fact-checking initiative is East Africa's first public finance fact-checking project, co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein.
PesaCheck is an initiative of Code for Africa, incubated through its innovateAFRICA fund, with support from Deutsche Welle Akademie, in partnership with local African media and civic watchdog organisations. The project seeks to help the public distinguish fact from fiction in public pronouncements about numbers that shape the world, with a focus on public finances and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) public services.
The public can report suspected fake or false information on Facebook by following a simple process. More information on PesaCheck's methodology for fact-checking questionable content is also available. This fact-check serves as a reminder to verify information before sharing it on social media to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Key to PesaCheck's mission is its focus on public finances that shape government's delivery of SDG public services, such as healthcare, rural development, and access to water and sanitation. By testing the accuracy of media reportage, PesaCheck aims to promote accountability and transparency in public pronouncements.
Key points
- The video claiming to show President Museveni visiting street children in Kampala is false.
- The video is a skit posted by the Ugandan comedy duo Sammie and Shawa.
- PesaCheck is working to identify and correct misinformation on social media platforms.
