Uganda Internet Shutdown 2026 Election: UN Warns of Digital Repression
Uganda has imposed a nationwide internet shutdown ahead of the January 15, 2026, election. The UN and rights groups warn this threatens the fairness of the vote.
Uganda is heading to the polls, but its digital doors are locked tight. As of January 14, 2026, the East African nation faces a nationwide internet blackout, a move the United Nations calls "deeply worrying" for the integrity of the upcoming general election.
Uganda Internet Shutdown 2026 Election: A Digital Barrier
According to the internet monitor NetBlocks, the government-imposed restrictions began on Tuesday evening. Mobile network operators were instructed to block public access just hours before citizens were set to vote on January 15. NetBlocks warned that rather than stopping misinformation, the shutdown is likely to limit transparency and increase the risk of vote fraud.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, seeks to extend his decades-long rule. He's being challenged by pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, whose campaign has been marred by routine disruptions and arrests by Ugandan authorities. The UN Human Rights Office noted that the election is taking place amid "widespread repression" against dissenting voices.
Security vs. Fundamental Rights
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) defended the blackout as a necessary step to curb electoral fraud and misinformation. However, Amnesty International condemned the measure as a "brazen attack" on freedom of expression.
Blanket shutdowns disrupt people’s mobility, livelihoods and their ability to access vital information. They are inherently disproportionate under international human rights law.
The memory of the 2021 election looms large. During that cycle, similar internet restrictions were paired with widespread violence that left at least 54 people dead. Human rights groups fear that cutting off communication channels today serves to hide potential abuses tomorrow.
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