Image of Ssenyonyi in ‘Vote Museveni’ T-Shirt is a Deepfake

An AI-generated Image of Joel Ssenyonyi wearing an NRM t-shirt with the words Vote M7 2016-2021

An image circulating on social media claiming to show Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi wearing a “Vote Museveni” T-shirt in 2014 has been found to be fabricated. Fact-checking shows the image is an example of AI-generated deepfake content designed to mislead the electorate in the run-up to the 2026 general elections.

The Image first appeared on TikTok, posted by @Gustyaki0, a faceless account whose content is all AI-generated.

The image then found its way to Twitter through another NRM mobiliser account, @MwesigyeFranks . Here, the image has gone viral being viewed by 19,000 people.

Mwesigye Frank's post bearing the AI-generated Image of Joel Ssenyonyi purportedly wearing a Vote Museveni T-shirt

This is not the only AI-generated image that Gusty posted about Ssenyonyi, 18 hours ago, the account posted another image this time with Ssenyonyi purportedly in a vehicle wearing a white shirt also with the same phrase, "Vote M7 2016-2021" but this time with the image labelled as one from 2015.

An AI-generated image of Joel Ssenyonyi in a Museveni T-shirt.

We analysed videos and photos of Joel Ssenyonyi from 2014 and found that the facial features in this Gusty Photo show Ssenyonyi's likeness as of 2025. His facial structure and percieved weight are also current. The leader of Opposition was much smaller than he looks now in 2014.

A side-by-side comparison shows a clear difference in facial features and perceived weight, which we infer from the photos.

The Account where the image appeared first was also a red flag. This account posts only AI-generated content. From videos of an AI-generated President Museveni smoking weed to videos showing giant statues of President Museveni being installed in Masaka. All these are

Events that did not happen.

A Fake Video of President Yoweri Museveni purportedly smoking weed. This is another example of an AI generated video by the same account, Gusty

Another Fake Video from the same account(Gusty) showing a statue of President Museveni being installed, purportedly in Masaka. This event did not happen.

Facts about Ssenyonyi

In 2014, Joel Ssenyonyi was working as a journalist and news anchor at NTV Uganda. At that time, he had no known public political affiliation with President Yoweri Museveni or the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Ssenyonyi only transitioned into active politics around 2019–2020, becoming a spokesperson for the People Power movement and later the National Unity Platform (NUP). He was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2021 and, in 2024, rose to the position of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

No credible evidence or authentic photographs exist showing Ssenyonyi endorsing Museveni in 2014, nor is there any record of him wearing NRM-branded campaign material.

Manipulated images and AI-generated content targeting politicians are becoming increasingly common in Uganda and across East Africa. Similar altered visuals have previously been debunked by fact-checking organisations like Debunk Media Initiative and Africa Check, underscoring a growing trend of disinformation aimed at reshaping public perceptions of political figures.

The image claiming to show Joel Ssenyonyi in a Museveni campaign T-shirt in 2014 is false. It is a manipulated deepfake consistent with efforts to distort political history and allegiances. At the time the photo purports to depict, Ssenyonyi was a journalist, not an NRM supporter.