Article
To say it is crunch time for government over the planned de-gazetting and, subsequently, the expected allocation of 7100 hectares of Mabira Forest reserve to the Sugar Company of Uganda Limited would be a gross understatement. We are in the midst of an ever-escalating conflict. Shortly before the standoff between government and protestors under the umbrella group, Save Mabira Crusade, had reached a crescendo, a campaign to wean consumers off Scoul’s sugar was launched through Short Messaging Service (SMS) on all mobile phone networks, email and word of mouth. The message was simple: it urged consumers not to buy Scoul sugar citing a catalogue of sins. This article highlights one use of text messaging in a Ugandan campaign.