Just two days before the country’s pivotal general elections, the Ugandan government has imposed a sweeping temporary suspension of public internet access, new SIM card registrations, and certain mobile services, sparking widespread concern over transparency, voter communication, and democratic freedoms.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the nation’s telecommunications regulator, issued a directive on January 13, 2026, ordering all licensed mobile network operators and internet service providers to immediately halt public internet services.
The measures, which took effect at 6:00 p.m. local time that day, also prohibit the sale and registration of new SIM cards and block outbound data roaming to countries in the One Network Area.
The restrictions will remain in place until the UCC issues a formal restoration notice, with services expected to be reinstated in phases.
In the letter signed by UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo, the commission cited a “strong recommendation” from the Inter-Agency Security Committee.
Authorities described the action as essential to curb the rapid spread of online misinformation and disinformation, prevent electoral fraud, and deter incitement to violence that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and national security during this sensitive period.
The directive explicitly blocks non-essential internet traffic, including access to social media platforms, general web browsing, video streaming, personal email, and messaging applications such as WhatsApp.
Mobile virtual private network (VPN) services have also been ordered disabled to prevent circumvention.
However, limited exemptions apply to critical infrastructure and essential public services.
These include national referral hospitals, core banking and interbank systems, Uganda Revenue Authority tax platforms, immigration and Electoral Commission secure portals, utilities management, aviation and railway control systems, and network monitoring tools.
Access to these exempted systems is restricted to authorized personnel through secure, whitelisted mechanisms like dedicated IP ranges or private circuits.
Uganda’s January 15, 2026, general elections will see incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, now in his late 70s and seeking to extend his rule beyond four decades in power, face off against challengers including prominent opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform.
The contest has been marked by heightened political tensions, reports of opposition intimidation, and longstanding accusations of electoral irregularities.
This is not the first time Uganda has restricted digital connectivity around elections.
Similar measures were imposed during the 2016 and 2021 polls, including a near-total nationwide internet blackout in 2021 that lasted over 100 hours and reportedly cost the economy hundreds of billions of shillings.
Critics, including human rights organizations and digital rights advocates, have consistently argued that such shutdowns disproportionately hinder opposition coordination, independent election monitoring, real-time reporting of irregularities, and citizens’ ability to share evidence or demand accountability.
The timing of the latest restrictions has drawn immediate scrutiny.
Internet traffic from Uganda reportedly plummeted by about 95% within 30 minutes of the 6:00 p.m. deadline, according to global network monitoring data.
Opposition voices and civil society groups have condemned the move as an attempt to control information flow and limit scrutiny of the voting process.
International observers, including members of the #KeepItOn coalition against internet shutdowns, had earlier appealed to the government to ensure unrestricted access to digital platforms throughout the election period.
With millions of Ugandans relying on mobile internet for daily communication, business, and information, the suspension is expected to disrupt everyday life significantly while shifting reliance to radio, word-of-mouth networks, or limited SMS services where still functional.
The government maintains that the steps are proportionate security precautions, not blanket censorship, but the indefinite duration tied to official restoration has fueled uncertainty about when full connectivity will return—potentially extending well beyond election day.
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As polling stations prepare to open on Thursday, January 15, the digital blackout has intensified debates about the balance between national security and the fundamental rights to information, expression, and free participation in the democratic process.
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