The Ugandan government restricted access to the internet across the entire country on January 13 in anticipation of the general presidential and parliamentary elections. This was reported by the local newspaper Monitor, citing a letter from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) sent to telecommunications operators.
The letter was sent to operators on January 13. Currently, there is no information on when connectivity will be restored. The UCC letter states that restricting network access is necessary to ensure security during the voting period, in accordance with recommendations from the Inter-Agency Security Committee.
UCC representatives are expected to issue an official statement later regarding the measures taken.
Earlier in January, Ugandan authorities imposed a ban on broadcasting and online streaming of potential riots, unauthorized processions, and acts of violence ahead of the presidential elections.
The general election in Uganda is scheduled for January 15.
Eight candidates, including the current leader of Uganda, are set to participate in the 2026 presidential election. The candidates include Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, representing the largest opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP); James Nandala Mafabi from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC); Robert Kasibante from the National Peasants' Party (NPP); Joseph Mabirizi from the Conservative Party (CP); and others.
Museveni has noted that since 1986, Uganda has gone through "five stages of development," and the NRM party aims to transform the country into a "$500 billion economy" within the next five years.
In May, the "African Initiative" provided a more detailed report on opposition figure Kyagulanyi and his platform.
