Uganda’s government has imposed new restrictions on the importation of Starlink satellite internet equipment weeks ahead of a national election, prompting concerns from the opposition that authorities may again shut down internet access during the vote.
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.
