Inside the YKM Cyber Team Driving NRM’s Digital Push

In Uganda’s increasingly digital political climate, where the influence of social media rivals the noise of campaign rallies, President Museveni’s supporters are steadily strengthening their online presence ahead of the 2026 elections. Central to this effort is the YKM Cyber Team, a network of activists that has evolved into one of the ruling National Resistance Movement’s most visible campaign arms.

Established in 2021 and based in Kawempe, the team has grown from a small cluster of online influencers into a countrywide structure with more than 12,000 coordinators. What once appeared to be an informal group of digital enthusiasts is now a hybrid machine combining social media campaigns with direct voter engagement. Team chairman Were Karim described the mission as extending far beyond hashtags. “We are not just posting messages online. We are engaging voters, correcting misinformation, and ensuring people understand what government programmes are delivering on the ground,” he said.

The strategy reflects a clear awareness of the demographic Uganda’s ruling party must reach. With more than 70 percent of the population under 30 and consuming most political content online, platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok have become decisive battlegrounds. For the YKM Cyber Team, shaping narratives and defending the President’s record on these platforms is as critical as rallying in town squares or addressing gatherings in rural communities.

The group has outlined ambitious plans for the months ahead, including mass production of digital content, coordinated hashtag campaigns, and the organisation of online debates. Beyond the virtual space, they intend to continue organising rallies, training sessions, and neighbourhood meetings to reinforce their message offline. Secretary Yakubu Siraji said the team’s strength lies in its reliance on data. “We monitor conversations, identify undecided voters, and adjust our messaging to match real concerns. It means we can connect with people online and also in their neighbourhoods in a way that feels personal,” he explained.

The group estimates that, with the right facilitation, it can generate over a million digital engagements monthly and train 5,000 new digital ambassadors to support the President’s re-election bid. While these numbers remain projections, the intent underlines how Uganda’s political communication is shifting towards targeted, data-driven campaigning.

Observers argue that this trend is reshaping the country’s electoral terrain. Whereas past campaigns were dominated by radio talk shows and stadium rallies, the decisive contests in Buganda, Busoga, and northern Uganda may now first be fought in trending hashtags and WhatsApp groups before manifesting in village meetings and town rallies.

As the 2026 campaign season gathers momentum, the work of the YKM Cyber Team captures a broader reality about politics in Uganda today. Victory is no longer determined only by the final tally of votes, but also by the clicks, shares, and conversations that shape public opinion long before ballots are cast.