In a letter dated January 13 and seen by TechCabal, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) said the restrictions would take effect from 6:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday and remain in place until further notice. The directive covers social media platforms, messaging apps, web browsing, video streaming, and mobile data services.

UCC executive director Nyombi Thembo said the move was aimed at preventing misinformation and ensuring security during the election period. Only essential services, including hospitals, banking systems, government payment platforms, and secure election infrastructure, will be allowed to operate using dedicated networks, virtual private networks, or private circuits.

The decision follows a growing trend across Africa, where governments impose internet restrictions during elections, often disrupting access to communication, information, and mobile financial services.

Uganda has previously taken similar action. In 2021, the government shut down internet access for nearly five days during elections, a move NetBlocks estimated cost the economy about $9 million, according to Reuters.

President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is seeking re-election against seven challengers, including opposition leader and pop star Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

Similar election-related internet disruptions were reported last year in Tanzania, where access to online services, including banking and mobile payment platforms, was temporarily restricted.

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President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is seeking to extend his nearly five-decade rule in the January 15 election, where he faces pop star-turned-opposition leader Bobi Wine, 43, for the second time.

During the 2021 election, the government imposed a nationwide internet shutdown that lasted several days. Wine later rejected the election results, alleging widespread rigging — accusations Museveni has denied.

The latest restrictions emerged from a leaked memo dated December 19 from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), which circulated on social media. A URA spokesperson later confirmed the authenticity of the document.

According to the memo, imports of “Starlink technology gadgets, communication equipment and associated components” now require clearance from the head of the military, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president’s son.

The revenue authority sought to downplay the move, saying many countries regulate the importation of communications technology.

Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, does not yet have a licence to operate in Uganda. However, many Ugandans have been importing and using the satellite internet service without official approval.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, criticised the restrictions in a post on X, calling them unnecessary and politically motivated.

“If they’re not planning electoral fraud, why are they so scared of people accessing the internet during the electoral process?” he wrote.

Museveni, a former rebel leader, has been credited with stabilising Uganda and promoting economic growth and HIV/AIDS prevention. However, critics accuse his government of suppressing opposition voices, human rights abuses and corruption.

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TECH DIGEST – Paradigm Initiative condemns, in the strongest terms possible, the directive by the Uganda Communications Commission ordering a temporary “Suspension of the Operation of Internet Gateways” allegedly in the exercise of its functions, under Sections 5(1) and 56 of the Uganda Communications Act of 2013. As a result of this directive, major internet service providers such as MTN and Airtel Uganda have issued communications to the effect that they have complied as ordered.

As is now characteristic of African governments during elections and specifically on election day, it is unfortunate but not surprising that the Government of the Republic of Uganda elected to shut down the internet connectivity just a day before the general elections scheduled for the 14th of January 2021.

This action to block internet access in Uganda is a blatant violation of regional and international standards on freedom of expression and access to information. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it glaring that internet access is an enabler for accessing health care and education. An attack on internet access is clearly a violation of human rights. Article 9 (1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights provides for access to information as the right to receive information and is echoed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights under Article 19(2). The government of Uganda must promote access to information and freedom of expression through unhindered access to the internet.

In terms of Principle 37 of the Declaration of Principles On Freedom Of Expression And Access To Information In Africa States must facilitate the rights to freedom of expression and access to information online and the means necessary to exercise these rights and must recognise that universal, equitable, affordable and meaningful access to the internet is necessary for the realisation of freedom of expression, access to information and the exercise of other human rights. Furthermore, PIN calls on the government of Uganda to adhere to the objective of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance under Article 2(10) to promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, freedom of the press and accountability in the management of public affairs. An open internet will ensure this compliance as well as the promotion of human rights under article 4 of the same.

We urge the Ugandan authorities to respect their citizens’ right to, among others, access to information as guaranteed by the relevant Ugandan laws as well as the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.

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TECH DIGEST – Uganda ordered internet service providers to block all social media platforms and messaging apps on Tuesday until further notice, a letter from the country’s communications regulator seen by Reuters said.

Users had complained earlier on Tuesday that they were unable to access Facebook and WhatsApp, social media platforms being widely used for campaigning ahead of Thursday’s presidential election in the East African country.

“Uganda Communications Commission hereby directs you to immediately suspend any access and use, direct or otherwise, of all social media platforms and online messaging applications over your network until further notice,” said the letter from the commission’s executive director to internet providers.

The commission’s spokesman Ibrahim Bbossa and government spokesman Ofwono Opondo did not answer calls requesting comment. An aide to Minister of Information Judith Nabakooba said she was unable to comment at the moment.

A source in Uganda’s telecom sector said the government had made clear to executives at telecoms companies that the social media ban was in retaliation for Facebook blocking some pro-government accounts.

The U.S. social media giant said on Monday it had taken down a network in Uganda linked to the country’s ministry of information for using fake and duplicate accounts to post ahead of this week’s election.

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NEWS DIGEST – The parliament of Uganda has approved a law that imposes new tax regime on social media services and mobile money transactions.

Critics of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2018 had argued that taxing social media would amount to restrictions on freedoms of expression on the internet while taxing mobile money transactions would hurt low income earners who had found solace in the services, after mainstream banks failed to reach them with suitable services.

Government however argued that the needs of poor Ugandans had been considered and that the revenue collected from the new taxes would be used to provide services like ‘free education, free healthcare and free roads’ that are demanded by the citizenry.

“We are putting that into the mind that’s why we are only increasing it by 1% not 2%. These people we are taxing need free medical care, education and all services.

‘‘We are putting that into the mind that’s why we are only increasing it by 1% not 2%. These people we are taxing need free medical care, education and all services,’‘ said Bahati David, the state finance minister in charge of planning.

The new taxes that take effect in the next financial year will see Ugandans pay a 1% tax on all mobile money transactions while they will also be charged 200 shillings ($0.027) for every day they access social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

Opposition politicians voiced their reservations on the benefits of taxing the poor, in the name of revenue collection. Many argued that government should instead focus on tackling corruption to optimise the use of available government resources.

‘‘We are losing money to corruption yet we want to tax the poor who are trying to survive. I don’t want to be part of the parliament that strangles the life out of Ugandans, ‘’ said Katusabe Godfrey, a legislator from the biggest opposition party in Uganda.

Uganda has a population of 41 million people, 23.6 million are mobile phone subscribers and 17 million use the internet.

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