Ugandan authorities ordered a nationwide internet blackout starting January 13, 2026, citing the need to prevent misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud, and incitement of violence during the country’s general elections on January 15. The shutdown, which extended through election day, disrupted social media, messaging services, and online news, drawing widespread criticism as a violation of human rights and a tactic to suppress opposition voices.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) directed mobile network operators and internet service providers to suspend public internet access from 6 p.m. EAT on January 13, describing it as a “precautionary intervention” based on recommendations from the Inter-Agency Security Committee. The measure was indefinite, with no specified end date, and included restrictions on essential services like hospitals and banks, which were allowed limited access but prohibited from enabling social media or VPNs.
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The blackout occurred amid a tense presidential race where 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni sought a seventh term after nearly four decades in power, facing challenges from pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine. Critics, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, condemned the shutdown as a violation of freedom of expression and access to information, especially critical during elections, and called for immediate restoration.
This is not Uganda’s first election-related internet restriction; similar blackouts occurred in 2016 and 2021, with the latter lasting several days and drawing international condemnation. The UCC had previously denied plans for a shutdown, assuring uninterrupted access as recently as January 5, but reversed course amid security concerns.
The disruption delayed voting in some areas due to malfunctioning biometric machines and affected sectors like banking, while opposition leaders alleged it was designed to control narratives and thwart protests. President Museveni defended the measure, likening it to a “road closure” to deal with “criminals” using the infrastructure to destabilize the country.
