Uganda Imposes Nationwide Internet Blackout Ahead of January 15, 2026 General Elections, effective today, 6 PM EAT. Just as we expected….On January 13, 2026 — mere hours before the directive took effect at 6:00 PM local time — the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) issued a sweeping order to all licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), mandating a complete temporary suspension of public internet access across the country. This move comes just two days before Uganda’s general elections scheduled for January 15, 2026, in which President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his four-decade rule. The UCC directive, addressed to telecom CEOs and citing a “strong recommendation” from the Inter-Agency Security Committee, requires the immediate blocking of:
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- All public internet access
- Sale and registration of new SIM cards
- Outbound data roaming services to countries in the One Network Area
The blackout is comprehensive, affecting every major form of connectivity: mobile broadband (cellular networks), fibre optic connections, leased lines, fixed wireless access, microwave radio links, and even satellite internet services. According to the official letter, the measure aims “to mitigate the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks, as well as preventing incitement of violence that could affect public confidence and national security during the election period.”
What Ordinary Users Lose — and What (Narrowly) Remains
Virtually all everyday internet usage by the public has been classified as non-essential and must be blocked. This includes:
- Social media platforms (Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)
- General web browsing
- Video streaming services
- Personal email accounts
- Messaging applications
The shutdown echoes — but appears even more extensive than — previous restrictions seen during Uganda’s 2016 and 2021 elections, when social media blocks and full blackouts lasted for days.A tightly controlled exclusion list allows limited continued access, but only for non-mobile internet services and strictly defined critical infrastructure. Permitted categories include:
- Healthcare systems at National Referral Hospitals
- Core financial services (interbank transfers, clearing systems, ATM networks, URA tax payments, government payment gateways)
- Critical government services (immigration systems, Electoral Commission secure portals, voter verification, result tabulation networks)
- Utilities management (power grid controls, water supply systems, fuel distribution)
- Transportation and aviation systems (air traffic control, railway signalling)
- SIM swap and upgrade systems (under existing rules)
These exceptions demand rigorous security measures: access restricted to authorized personnel via whitelisted IP ranges, dedicated VPNs, or private circuits, with mandatory logging, auditing, and immediate suspension if abuse is detected. Operators must disable mobile VPN services network-wide and submit their whitelists to the UCC. Social media and messaging apps remain strictly prohibited even within these exempted environments. No public bypasses are allowed.
Harsh Enforcement Terms
The directive leaves little room for partial compliance:
“Any Operator that shall not be able to implement the instruction must shut down their entire internet infrastructure for the duration of this suspension.”
Failure to comply risks severe sanctions, including substantial fines and potential revocation of operating licenses.
Context: A Recurring Pattern in a High-Stakes Vote
Uganda’s 2026 general elections, pitting long-time incumbent Museveni against challengers including prominent opposition figure Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi), have been marked by rising political tensions, reports of violence, and concerns over electoral transparency. Internet restrictions during politically sensitive periods have become a familiar tactic in the country. Digital rights organizations and opposition groups have quickly criticized the latest blackout as a deliberate effort to limit real-time monitoring, citizen journalism, and the free flow of information — especially damaging in an era when social media and messaging apps serve as primary channels for election updates and mobilization .With no fixed end date (the suspension lasts until the UCC issues a restoration notice), millions of Ugandans now face a digital blackout at the height of one of the most consequential votes in recent years. Businesses, journalists, civil society, and international observers are left watching how — and when — connectivity will return.
