Trending 
The Ugandan government has rejected claims that it plans to shut down the internet during next week’s general election.
The denial follows allegations by opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, who said the government could cut internet access to stop mobilisation and limit the sharing of election results.
“As we all know, the regime is plotting an internet shutdown, as they have done in past elections, to block communication and prevent citizens from organising, verifying results, and demanding accountability,” Bobi Wine said in his New Year’s address.
Concerns intensified on Friday after satellite internet provider Starlink restricted its services in Uganda, following a directive from the Uganda Communications Commission.
Uganda is due to vote on January 15, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking another term in office. Museveni has been in power since 1986 and is running for a seventh term.
The communications regulator, however, stated that an internet blackout was not planned. Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director of UCC, called reports of a possible internet blackout “mere rumours.”
“As of now, there is no resolution to switch off the internet,” Thembo told Capital FM, adding that the commission’s responsibility is to ensure uninterrupted connectivity across the country.
The government also addressed the issue on Monday in a post on its official X account, saying, “The Government of Uganda has not ordered any internet shutdown during the upcoming elections.”
It added that “claims suggesting otherwise are false, misleading, and intended to cause unnecessary fear and tension among the public.”
During the 2021 elections, Uganda blocked internet access for four days. This was followed by protests that resulted in the deaths of numerous people. Museveni’s primary opponent in that vote was Bobi Wine.
