KAMPALA — Uganda has implemented a nationwide suspension of public internet access and selected mobile services ahead of Thursday’s presidential election, triggering renewed criticism from opposition figures who say the move will restrict information flows and undermine independent scrutiny of the vote.
In a directive issued Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) instructed mobile network operators and internet service providers to halt public internet access from 6:00 p.m. and keep the restriction in place “until further notice,” citing national security concerns and the need to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and incitement to violence.”
The order also requires operators to stop the sale and registration of new SIM cards and disable outbound data roaming within the One Network Area framework, while maintaining tightly controlled access for a limited set of essential services—such as critical government systems and core financial infrastructure—through whitelisted mechanisms.
Independent monitoring groups reported a sharp, near-immediate impact on connectivity after the deadline, with metrics indicating a dramatic reduction in internet traffic.
The shutdown comes as opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) mounts a second presidential challenge against President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has led Uganda since 1986. With the internet cut hours before polls open, Wine has called on supporters to remain vigilant and mobilise, framing the restriction as an obstacle to participation and oversight.
Uganda has imposed similar restrictions during past elections, including broad limits in 2016 and a near-total blackout during the 2021 polls, measures authorities have previously defended on security grounds while critics argued they constrained transparency and observation.
