Uganda Orders Internet Blackout Ahead Of Vote, Reversing Earlier Shutdown Denials

The Ugandan government has ordered a comprehensive shutdown of public internet access and key telecommunications services, a measure taking effect just 48 hours before a presidential election where President Yoweri Museveni aims to extend his four-decade rule.

The directive from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), issued on January 13 and effective from 6 p.m., instructs all mobile operators and internet service providers to suspend services until further notice. The regulator stated the blackout was a “necessary” step following a “strong recommendation” from security agencies to prevent the spread of misinformation, electoral fraud, and incitement of violence.

Beyond blocking access to social media, messaging apps, and general web browsing, it also halts the sale of new SIM cards, suspends outbound roaming to neighbouring countries, and instructs operators to disable mobile Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) used to circumvent restrictions. The measures affect all connection types, from mobile data to fibre optics and satellite services.

Crucially, the government had denied any such plans just over a week earlier. On January 5, the Ministry of ICT and the UCC held a joint briefing to label rumours of an imminent shutdown as “false and misleading,” stating no decision had been made.

The shutdown directly impacts an estimated 10.6 million internet users in Uganda and occurs as the country’s 21.6 million registered voters prepare to cast their ballots on January 15. While essential services like core banking, healthcare systems, and government portals are exempted, ordinary citizens and businesses are cut off from the global internet.

This action follows a familiar pattern. During the disputed 2021 general election, authorities imposed a near-total internet blackout lasting approximately 100 hours. A report by internet research group TOP10VPN estimated that shutdown cost the Ugandan economy roughly UGX 390 B, placing it among the world’s top five for economic losses from such actions.

President Museveni, 81, faces seven challengers, including his main rival from the last election, opposition leader Bobi Wine. Campaigning has been tense, with the opposition reporting hundreds of arrests among its members.

Digital rights advocates condemn the move as an erosion of fundamental freedoms. A similar shutdown in 2021 was criticised by groups like CIPESA for curtailing access to information and hindering independent election monitoring during a crucial democratic process.

Feature Image Credits: Unwanted Witness