Tegeera Study Track

Although the smartphone was introduced in the 1990s, it gained widespread popularity only in 2007. Previous phones, known in Uganda as ‘Amapesa’ had keypads and could only connect to a diluted version of the internet. However, with the introduction of the iPhone, large touchscreens could navigate websites in the same way that desktop computers do. Today, smartphones have become such a significant part of our lives that many people cannot imagine living without them.

A growing number of these mobile device owners consume news and information on them and prefer to be on social media platforms during news broadcasts on television and radio. Insights from several individuals were gathered through interviews conducted on May 7, 2022. For example, when I asked how the smartphone has changed his life, one SafeBoda rider said in Luganda, translated to English:

We get news quickly, as you know. When something happens, you will already know about it by the time you see it on TV… Then there are quick warnings. By the time you hear it on the radio, you've already received the warning and are aware. Before you even leave the house, you will be aware that this and that could occur at any time.

These communication devices have changed the way people get entertained. Before the internet, most people only watched videos if they had a television or went to the cinema. Today, they can watch their favourite comedies and music videos on these distraction slabs. This is evidenced by the above-mentioned SafeBoda rider when he said: 

There's comedy, music, and new songs, all of which we get quickly. We receive timely updates.

These pocket computers have become the most popular devices for online shopping. Three people I interviewed said one can order something online, and they will bring it to you while you are seated, going about your business. One of them stated that he did online businesses and trading. He was able to transfer funds through online platforms. Two of them mentioned how these handsets helped them save money on transportation.

The rise of these digital interfaces has pushed digital marketing into the mainstream. An increasing number of people have chosen to use these units to advertise their products. One businessman that I interviewed said:

I’ve also been able to advertise online via Facebook, Twitter, and sometimes Instagram, because I always post my business. I have a winery. I always post my new things that are coming in…

As these pocket-sized electronics have grown in popularity, so have apps. This has resulted in business expansion. Take the salon industry as an example. One young woman I spoke with said she learned how to braid locs by watching YouTube videos on her smartphone, which has helped her improve her skills and led to the expansion of her salon business. Another person I interviewed, a boda boda rider and builder, stated that his wife sold bags online while he made deals with his friends abroad to buy plots of land and build houses for them after they saw pictures of his completed houses online.

Since the handset has become people's digital security blanket – and it goes everywhere with them – an increasing number of people are experiencing the fear of being without, or losing, their mobile phone. This fear is known as nomophobia. One person I interviewed admitted that he would become sick if he did not have his smartphone. Another person stated that his smartphone allows him to be happier and less worried. As a result, this is one way in which the smartphone has harmed people's lives.

Mobile technology has evolved into a second brain for Ugandans, enabling real-time news updates, internet business operations, and remote study. Despite challenges such as addiction and anxiety, they remain an important part of Ugandan life.