UBC did not employ SFC officers as presenters in 2026 election

23 January 2026, 10:41 am

By Byamukama Alozious

A claim circulating on X (formerly Twitter) alleges that Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) is using Special Forces Command (SFC) officers as television presenters during the broadcast of the 2026 presidential results.

The post, published on 18 January 2026, features a photo of a man, later confirmed to be Brian Byaruhanga Tumwine, on UBC TV while the presidential results were being aired.

Impact of the claim

The claim gained wide traction on X (formerly Twitter), reaching over 71,000 people, with 110 reposts, eight quote posts, 26 bookmarks, and numerous replies. Many of the reactions were harmful, targeting the journalist and damaging his professional reputation.

What we checked

We examined the claim to determine whether Brian Byaruhanga Tumwine is affiliated with the Special Forces Command (SFC) and whether UBC is using SFC officers as presenters.

Facts

To verify the claim, we contacted Brian Byaruhanga Tumwine directly. He stated that he is a professional journalist working with UBC as a news anchor, particularly for the lunchtime news, and has never been associated with the SFC, contrary to the claim. (click here for Tumwene’s response)

We also verified Brian Byaruhanga Tumwine’s role as a news anchor and reporter at UBC through a simple Google search, which revealed stories and telecasts dating back prior to the 2026 presidential elections (here, here, and here).

Brian described the claim as deliberate misinformation, noting that several people have contacted him asking when he joined the army. He said the situation has caused him frustration and emotional distress, as the claim falsely links him to a military institution.

Information verification

According to the Debunk Info Verifier, a fact-checking platform, none of the verified sources mentions UBC employing SFC officers as presenters. While external articles about the SFC and the 2026 elections exist, they are marked as unverified and should be treated with caution. This claim appears to be intentional misinformation and has harmed the journalist’s reputation. https://infoverifier.debunkinitiative.org/

Verdict

False: The claim that UBC used Special Forces Command officers as presenters during the 2026 presidential election results telecast, and that Brian Byaruhanga Tumwine is affiliated with the SFC, is false.

Brian Byaruhanga Tumwine is a professional journalist at UBC who carries out legitimate media work. There is no evidence linking him to the SFC.

This fact-check was produced by MaMa FM with support from the Debunk Media Initiative and BBC Media Action.