In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and opposition figures, Ugandan authorities ordered a nationwide suspension of public internet access on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, just two days before the country's highly anticipated general election. The directive, issued by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), requires all licensed mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) to halt public internet services, effective from 6:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT / 1700 WAT), and to remain in force until further notice from the regulator.
The UCC's letter, dated January 13 and addressed to CEOs of telecom companies, cited a "strong recommendation" from the Inter-Agency Security Committee — comprising security agencies including the army and police — as the basis for the action. The stated purpose is to "mitigate the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks, as well as preventing incitement to violence that could affect public confidence and national security during the election period." The directive also prohibits the sale and registration of new SIM cards and outbound data roaming services to countries in the One Network Area.
Government officials confirmed the letter's authenticity to AFP, but there was no formal public statement from the administration, with sources indicating that authorities preferred not to "own" the decision directly. Essential state services and critical infrastructure — including national referral hospitals' healthcare systems, core banking and interbank networks, Uganda Revenue Authority tax platforms, immigration services, Electoral Commission secure portals, voter verification tools, and result tabulation systems — are exempted, with access restricted to authorized personnel via secure mechanisms such as dedicated IP ranges, VPNs, or private circuits.
This shutdown comes amid a tense electoral atmosphere in which President Yoweri Museveni, aged 81 and in power since 1986, is seeking a seventh term. Museveni, who first came to power after leading a rebel force to overthrow the previous regime, faces eight challengers, including prominent opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, the pop star-turned-politician from the National Unity Platform (NUP). Wine, who challenged Museveni in the contentious 2021 election, has mobilized significant support among urban youth and working-class voters, campaigning on themes of generational change, anti-corruption, and a "New Uganda Now." Other candidates include retired Major General Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation and Nathan Nandala Mafabi.
The election, scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, will also see voters elect members of parliament and local government councils. The run-up has been marked by reports of widespread repression, including hundreds of arbitrary arrests of opposition supporters, use of tear gas and live bullets at campaign rallies, and intimidation of journalists and activists, as documented by groups like Amnesty International.
The internet restrictions echo previous measures during Ugandan elections. In the 2021 general election, authorities imposed a near-total nationwide blackout starting January 13, lasting over 100 hours through polling and initial tallying, at an estimated economic cost of around $9 million according to internet monitoring firm NetBlocks (and higher figures from other sources like TOP10VPN, placing losses at approximately Shs390 billion). That vote was marred by accusations of rigging, ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and heavy state violence against opposition supporters, with dozens killed in protests. Bobi Wine rejected the results, claiming fraud, while Museveni described it as potentially the "most cheating-free election" in Uganda's history. Social media platforms remained restricted for extended periods afterward.
Despite earlier denials — with the UCC describing blackout rumors as "mere rumours" as recently as January 5, 2026, and insisting its role was to ensure uninterrupted connectivity — the Tuesday directive reversed those assurances. The move has heightened fears of electoral manipulation, limiting citizens' ability to access information, report irregularities, coordinate monitoring, and share results in real time. Opposition figures, including Bobi Wine, have accused the government of using the shutdown to block communication, prevent organization, and hinder verification of results.
Digital rights organizations have condemned the action. The #KeepItOn coalition, a global network of over 345 groups from 106 countries working to end internet shutdowns, urged Museveni on January 12 to guarantee unfettered access throughout the electoral cycle, warning that such measures undermine democratic participation. The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights expressed deep concern over escalating restrictions on freedom of expression, media freedom, and internet access ahead of the polls, noting that shutdowns violate Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which guarantees the right to receive information and express opinions.
Internet monitor NetBlocks and others have tracked the outage's immediate impact, with users reporting inability to access mobile data, social media, messaging apps, web browsing, and streaming services. Some business facilities with fixed connections retained limited access, but the broader public — an estimated 10.6 million internet users per UCC data — faces significant disruption.
The blackout adds to broader concerns about the election's credibility, including pre-poll violence, restrictions on international media coverage (with foreign journalists reportedly blocked from Museveni's final rally in Kampala on January 13), and the opposition's reliance on offline strategies like vote-monitoring apps developed in anticipation of restrictions.
As polling day approaches, the suspension underscores a recurring pattern in Ugandan elections, where digital controls coincide with heightened political tensions. Critics argue the measure favors the incumbent by curbing opposition mobilization and real-time scrutiny, while supporters of the government maintain it safeguards national security and prevents chaos. Restoration is expected only after a formal UCC notice, potentially in phases post-election.
This development has placed Uganda under international scrutiny, with calls for transparency, respect for human rights, and protection of democratic processes as millions prepare to vote.
