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Uganda’s communications regulator has reportedly ordered a temporary shutdown of public internet access and certain mobile services for the duration of the election period starting January 15, 2026.
In a notice dated January 13 that has since gone viral, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) said all licensed mobile network operators and internet service providers must suspend public internet access, halt the sale and registration of new SIM cards, and disable outbound data roaming to One Network Area countries.
The suspension took effect at 6:00 p.m. local time on January 13, 2026, and will remain in place until the commission issues a restoration notice.
The UCC said the decision followed a recommendation from the Inter-Agency Security Committee.
Under the directive, operators are required to block all non-essential public internet traffic, including access to social media platforms, web browsing, video streaming, personal email services and messaging applications.
The suspension applies to mobile broadband, fibre-optic networks, leased lines, fixed wireless access, microwave radio links, and satellite internet services.
“This measure is necessary to mitigate the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks, as well as preventing of incitement of violence that could affect public confidence and national security during the election period,” the commission said in the statement.
“The suspension is effective 13th January 2026, at 1800 hrs and will remain in force until a restoration notice is issued by the UCC. During this period, all non-essential public internet traffic must be blocked. Public internet traffic includes but not limited to social media platforms, web browsing, video streaming, personal email services, and messaging applications, among others.
“The suspension applies to Mobile Broadband (Cellular), Fibre Optic, Leased Lines, Fixed Wireless Access, Microwave Radio Links, and Satellite Internet Services.
“To safeguard public safety, critical national functions, and the operational integrity of communications infrastructure, a strictly defined exclusion list has been established by the UCC. These exclusions permit continued access to essential services and systems required for network monitoring and management and is strictly for non-mobile internet services. If operators detect abuse of internet services by excluded services and systems, immediate suspension is required.
“Access to these excluded systems must be limited exclusively to authorised personnel and implemented through secure, whitelisted mechanisms (e.g., dedicated IP ranges, VPNs, or private circuits).
“Operators are prohibited from extending this list or allowing any form of public bypass. Access to social media and message applications is strictly prohibited within the accessible service provider environments. Operators must submit to the UCC the whitelisted systems and service accounts corresponding to the exclusion list immediately upon implementation of this directive. Operators shall further ensure that mobile VPN services are disabled on their networks.
UCC added that the exclusions apply only to non-mobile internet services and allow continued access to essential systems, including healthcare services at national referral hospitals, core banking and interbank payment systems, tax and government payment platforms, immigration and electoral commission systems, utilities management, and transport and aviation control networks.
The regulator said access to excluded systems must be limited to authorised personnel and implemented through secure, whitelisted mechanisms such as dedicated IP ranges, private circuits or virtual private networks.
However, it added that “access to social media and message applications is strictly prohibited within the accessible service provider environments.”
The directive contrasts with earlier assurances from the Ugandan government that it had no plans for an internet shutdown during the elections. The denials followed claims by opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who alleged that authorities were planning to cut internet access to restrict 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.
In response to the internet shutdown, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation Deputy Managing Director Maurice Mugisha said there should be no justification for it if the public refrains from spreading false or malicious information.
“If we do not spread false or malicious information, there should be no reason for an internet shutdown. However, in case it happens, television and radio will still be available,” Mugisha said.
“With a free-to-air decoder, viewers can access UBC TV, and radios will continue to work on mobile phones and radio sets without internet.”
