Uganda has ordered an indefinite nationwide internet shutdown beginning 6:00 p.m. today, just two days before the much-anticipated general election, a move that has reignited debate over digital freedoms, transparency, and electoral integrity.
In a directive dated January 13, 2026, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) instructed all licensed mobile network operators and internet service providers to immediately suspend public internet access and selected mobile services until further notice. The order follows a recommendation from the Inter-Agency Security Committee, which cited national security concerns during the election period.
The suspension covers social media platforms, messaging applications, web browsing, video streaming, and personal email services, effectively shutting down most forms of online communication for the general public. The directive also halts the sale and registration of new SIM cards, blocks outbound data roaming, and requires operators to disable mobile VPN services, closing off common circumvention tools.
According to the UCC, the shutdown applies across mobile broadband (cellular), fibre optic networks, leased lines, fixed wireless access, microwave radio links, and satellite internet services, making it one of the most comprehensive digital blackouts imposed in the country in recent years.
The regulator justified the move as necessary to curb the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud narratives, and incitement to violence, warning that unchecked digital activity could undermine public confidence and national security during the sensitive election period.
“All non-essential public internet traffic must be blocked until a restoration notice is issued,” the directive states.
The shutdown comes amid a fiercely contested political landscape dominated by the presidential race between long-serving President Yoweri Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform (NUP). Beyond the presidency, the election also features high-stakes contests for parliamentary and local government seats, with NUP seeking to consolidate urban and youth support, while the NRM moves to maintain its nationwide dominance built over decades in power.
In recent weeks, much of the political mobilisation, campaigning, and citizen engagement—particularly among younger voters—has taken place online, with social media and messaging platforms serving as critical tools for information sharing and political organisation. The internet suspension has now effectively cut off these channels at a pivotal moment in the electoral process.
The decision has drawn heightened scrutiny, coming barely a week after government officials publicly denied plans to shut down the internet during the elections. The sudden reversal has raised questions over transparency and last-minute security assessments as voting day approaches.
While the UCC has allowed limited access for critical national functions and essential systems, such access is restricted to whitelisted IP addresses, secure private networks, and authorised personnel, primarily for non-mobile services. Operators have been warned against extending access beyond the approved list, with penalties for non-compliance including fines and possible license suspension.
With no clear timeline provided for restoration, the blackout is expected to affect media operations, election observation, digital payments, business continuity, and public access to real-time election information, as Uganda heads into one of its most closely watched elections in recent history.
