Uganda suspended full internet access for its citizens on Tuesday, a move that rights groups say underscores the government’s tightening grip ahead of national elections.
According to a letter seen by Reuters, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordered mobile service providers to restrict public internet access starting at 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks.”
“The UCC acknowledges the operational challenges this directive may impose and appreciates your full cooperation in upholding national stability during this sensitive period,” the commission wrote.
The blackout is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his nearly 40-year rule with a seventh term.
Earlier this month, authorities banned live broadcasts of what they described as “unlawful processions,” riots, and violent demonstrations.
“Live broadcasting or streaming of riots, unlawful processions, or violent incidents is prohibited, as it can escalate tensions and spread panic,” the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology said in a statement.
Civil society groups have also been targeted. Two local rights organizations were forced to suspend operations, with the UN Human Rights Office warning that the election is taking place in an atmosphere of intimidation and persecution.
The groups condemned what they called arbitrary detention and torture of journalists and opposition supporters.
Museveni, who first took power in 1986 after a five-year guerrilla war, once declared that Africa’s greatest problem was leaders who refused to leave office.
Now 81, he has filed to run again in the January 2026 elections, leaving most Ugandans with no memory of any president but him.
