Investigative journalism and activism
Atuhaire continued her investigative work independently, and then decided to take on digital civic activism more seriously. She became one of the key people who led AGORA, which is a community of activists and researchers, that uses social media as a platform to share verified information about government spending, public administration, and the treatment of citizens by state institutions. The group depends on the crowd-sourced submissions from the public, which can be in the form of documents, testimonies, or any other kind of evidence. The TIME profile says that one of her main tasks is to coordinate these resources, check their correctness, and display them in a way that is understandable to the public.
By using this method, people are allowed to track the utilization of public money and also recognize the instances of corruption that they would not have been able to see otherwise. Her work through social media has extended her audience, particularly among Ugandans who rely on the internet as a source of news on politics and human rights. Moreover, it gives her the freedom to operate without the constraints that a journalist is subjected to in a traditional newsroom. [6]
According to Atuhaire, her work in journalism and the law has been a major factor in the kind of digital activism she does with Agora Discourse. While explaining to the Council on Foreign Relations, she said that the two areas of study made her focus on the core principles guiding her investigations. These principles include: evidence, verification, and documentation. She pointed out that social media in Uganda was a place where one could get just unverified opinions and, therefore, she with her colleagues at Agora made it their work to issue only those materials which could be supported with documents like receipts, financial records, letters, or other proofs. This method has led to the growth of her name as a source of reliable information, and she is quoted as saying that a lot of Ugandans are now waiting for her confirmation before they accept the information about corruption or government spending as true.
Moreover, Atuhaire clarified her move to social media reporting by saying that the majority of young Ugandans get their news online and not from print newspapers. She contended that through digital platforms her work is able to reach more people, she gets the feedback she wants immediately, and the work is able to be circulated much faster than through traditional media. Her investigative posts, including those related to the Parliament exhibition, have been, to a great extent, the talk of radio-stations, WhatsApp groups, and other informal forums, and in that way, people have gotten to know her findings far beyond those who use social media. [7]
After leaving mainstream media, Atuhaire transitioned into freelance investigative journalism. She began using social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), as her primary platform to publish her findings. She explained this shift was motivated by the belief that information shared on social media reaches a wider and more engaged audience than through traditional channels. [5] This independent work allowed her to focus on long-form investigations into corruption and maladministration within major public institutions.
Law Development Centre investigation
Atuhaire gained national attention for her investigation into the Law Development Centre, Uganda's sole provider of the bar course. She exposed alleged systemic issues, including unexplained examination failures, a lack of transparent appeal processes for students, and general maladministration. Her reporting brought the long-standing frustrations of many law students to the forefront of public debate. [4]
Parliamentary expenditure ccandals
In 2023, Atuhaire led a high-profile investigation into the Parliament of Uganda's expenditure. She published documents and details revealing that the leadership, including Speaker Anita Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa, had procured expensive luxury vehicles using public funds, despite already having access to official vehicles. Her reports indicated that parliamentary officials who initially opposed the purchase were replaced by more compliant individuals. [8] This exposé led to public outcry and threats against her, though no legal action was taken against her as her reporting was based on documented evidence. [1]
#UgandaParliamentExhibition
In 2024, Atuhaire was a central figure in the online anti-corruption campaign known as the #UgandaParliamentExhibition. Working alongside other activists like Dr. Spire Ssentongo, she used social media to expose alleged large-scale corruption, nepotism, and extravagant spending within the Parliament of Uganda. [9] The campaign utilized leaked documents to detail questionable financial transactions, inflated allowances, and irregularities in staff recruitment. The exhibition generated intense national dialogue and put significant pressure on parliamentary leadership to address the allegations of misuse of public funds. [10]
