Security agencies have arrested Papa Were Salim, a former Makerere University Guild President and the owner of the controversial Fanon application, as authorities intensify scrutiny over unauthorised digital platforms ahead of the general elections.
Were Salim, who rose to national prominence during his tenure as Guild President at Makerere University, was taken into custody this week following the shutdown of the Fanon app, a voter-related digital platform that had gained traction on social media in recent weeks.
The Fanon app had been promoted as a tool to help voters identify their polling stations, but government regulators and electoral authorities distanced themselves from it, warning that it was not authorised to access, process or disseminate voter information.
Sources familiar with the matter say the arrest is linked to alleged offences related to computer misuse, unauthorised access to sensitive electoral data, and the publication of information deemed misleading during an election period. By press time, security agencies had not publicly disclosed the specific charges, but investigations are ongoing.
The arrest of Were Salim has drawn significant public attention due to his background in student leadership. As a former Makerere University Guild President, he was widely known for his activism, mobilisation skills and outspoken positions on governance and youth participation. His transition from campus politics into the tech and civic space had earned him both admiration and controversy.
Regulatory bodies have repeatedly warned against the creation and use of unofficial platforms that claim to offer voter services, stressing that only the Electoral Commission has the legal mandate to manage voter registers and publish polling-related information.
Authorities say the Fanon app was taken offline after it was found to be operating without approval and outside the legal framework governing data protection, elections and telecommunications.
The development comes at a sensitive time as Uganda approaches polling day, with government officials cautioning that misinformation, unauthorised digital tools and misuse of technology pose a threat to public order and the credibility of the electoral process.
Supporters of Were Salim argue that the app was intended to improve voter access to information, especially among young people, while critics say such initiatives must operate strictly within the law to safeguard data security and electoral integrity.
As investigations continue, the arrest of a former Makerere Guild President has reignited debate about youth activism, technology, and the fine line between civic innovation and regulatory compliance in Uganda’s political environment.
