Uganda Internet Shutdown Ends After Museveni Win, Social Media Still Blocked

Uganda has announced that it will continue restricting access to social media platforms, even as it begins restoring nationwide internet connectivity following last week’s presidential election that returned Yoweri Museveni to power.

The government had shut down the internet two days before polls opened on Thursday, a move officials said was aimed at curbing misinformation during the sensitive election period. The decision, however, drew criticism from the United Nations, which described the blackout as “deeply worrying.”

On Sunday, authorities confirmed that most internet services had been restored, but access to major social media platforms remains blocked.

“Social media platforms… remain temporarily restricted to continue safeguarding against misuse that could threaten public order,” said George Nyombi Thembo, executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

Thembo defended the suspension, describing it as “necessary and proportionate,” adding that it was intended to prevent the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, as well as to curb potential electoral fraud and incitement to violence.

He declined to give a timeline for when full access would be restored.

“I don’t want to put an estimate,” Thembo told reporters. “We are a reasonable agency. We are a reasonable government. We don’t expect this to exceed a reasonable time that will mitigate the risk that we are seeing.”

Museveni was declared the winner of the election on Saturday, extending his nearly four-decade rule. While much of the country remained calm following the announcement, there were reports of small-scale protests in parts of the capital, Kampala, late Saturday night. AFP journalists reported hearing tear gas in some areas.

By Sunday morning, security presence in Kampala appeared to have eased, with people returning to the streets and businesses reopening, particularly in areas such as Nampala.

The election was marked by notably low turnout and heavy security deployments, as authorities sought to prevent protests similar to those witnessed in neighbouring Tanzania during its October 2024 polls.