A post on the Facebook page “Genevieve nnaji” suggests that celebrated Nigerian actor Genevieve Nnaji has endorsed Ugandan politician Robert Kyagulanyi – a musician popularly known as Bobi Wine – for the country’s presidency.
It reads: “Change will change those who say No change! People are angry, someone in the hospital is dying bkoz of lack of medicine and the incumbent is buying cars and houses for those who oppose him! #Ugandans Africa is standing with you & the world is watching. #H.E ROBERT KYAGULANYI HAS BEEN DULY NOMINATED AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.”
It was posted on 3 November 2020, just hours after Kyagulanyi was certified to run against the incumbent Yoweri Museveni for Uganda’s presidency – and promptly arrested.
The post has attracted around 9,000 reactions and more than 1,000 comments, with many Facebook users applauding Nnaji for endorsing Kyagulanyi.
But did the actor really post this? We checked.
The page transparency tab for “Genevieve nnaji” quickly reveals that the page does not represent the actor.
On 13 April 2019 the page was merged with another, “Kayla Mbabazi”. A month later, on 23 May 2019, the page’s name was changed to “Kayla Mbabazi Genevieve nnaji”. Finally, on 1 June 2019, the name was again changed, to “Genevieve nnaji”.
The multiple name changes signal that “Genevieve nnaji” is an imposter account.
Nnaji’s official Facebook page was created on 15 May 2012 and has more than 5 million followers. The actor did not post a message endorsing Kyagulanyi. – Grace Gichuhi
It reads: “Change will change those who say No change! People are angry, someone in the hospital is dying bkoz of lack of medicine and the incumbent is buying cars and houses for those who oppose him! #Ugandans Africa is standing with you & the world is watching. #H.E ROBERT KYAGULANYI HAS BEEN DULY NOMINATED AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.”
It was posted on 3 November 2020, just hours after Kyagulanyi was certified to run against the incumbent Yoweri Museveni for Uganda’s presidency – and promptly arrested.
The post has attracted around 9,000 reactions and more than 1,000 comments, with many Facebook users applauding Nnaji for endorsing Kyagulanyi.
But did the actor really post this? We checked.
Page name repeatedly changed
The page transparency tab for “Genevieve nnaji” quickly reveals that the page does not represent the actor.
On 13 April 2019 the page was merged with another, “Kayla Mbabazi”. A month later, on 23 May 2019, the page’s name was changed to “Kayla Mbabazi Genevieve nnaji”. Finally, on 1 June 2019, the name was again changed, to “Genevieve nnaji”.
The multiple name changes signal that “Genevieve nnaji” is an imposter account.
Nnaji’s official Facebook page was created on 15 May 2012 and has more than 5 million followers. The actor did not post a message endorsing Kyagulanyi. – Grace Gichuhi
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
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Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
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Further Reading
[email protected]: The challenges of working across Africa
Misinformation knows no borders and Africa Check often responds to similar false claims from country to country.
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