#KeepItOn: Government of Uganda must ensure unrestricted internet access throughout the upcoming elections

For the attention of President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda

CC: Hon. George William Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director Uganda Communications Commission (UCC); Hon. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, Minister of Information ICT and Communications; Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance; Dr Hatwib Mugasa, Executive Director, National Information Technology Authority — Uganda (NITA-U); Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, Chairperson, Uganda Electoral Commission; Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) MTN Uganda; Soumendra Sahu, Managing Director Airtel Uganda; Paul Patrick Ikopit, Chief Executive Officer Uganda Telecom Limited

Around the world, governments deploy internet shutdowns to interfere with election outcomes and undermine democratic participation. This practice harms human rights — we cannot allow it to become normalized. Ahead of the upcoming presidential election, we urge the Republic of Uganda to #KeepItOn. 

We, the undersigned organizations and members of the#KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 345 organizations from 106 countries working to end internet shutdowns —  appeal to you, President Yoweri Museveni, to ensure that people in Uganda have unfettered access to the internet, digital platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming elections on January 15, 2026.

We urge your office to issue a directive to the relevant institutions, including the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), the Ministry of Information ICT and National Guidance and all internet service providers (ISPs) operating in the country, to refrain from disrupting access to the internet and digital platforms and ensure unrestricted access during the electoral cycle and beyond.

The #KeepItOn coalition is deeply alarmed by reports of an escalating crackdown on opposition voices and the media ahead of this week’s elections scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026. Authorities are reportedly engaging in arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearance, and the heavy deployment of armed security forces to harass and intimidate members and supporters of opposition entities, as well as journalists and activists. In October, journalists working with NTV Uganda and The Daily Monitor newspaper had their accreditations to cover parliamentary and presidential proceedings revoked, apparently in retaliation for critical reporting. Earlier this year, during a parliamentary by-election in Kawempe North constituency, several journalists and media workers were assaulted, while others had their equipment confiscated or destroyed by security operatives. These repressive actions set a dangerous and deeply troubling precedent for the conduct of the upcoming elections in Uganda.

As the people of Uganda prepare to vote, we underscore the critical importance of access to information and freedom of expression. These rights are essential to inclusive participation, and a cornerstone of free, fair and credible elections. In times of elections, access to the free flow of information is also a lifeline that must be protected to allow scrutiny of the entire process. The internet has given people unprecedented access to election information and enabled them to express their opinions, interact with candidates, and actively participate in electoral campaigns. Journalists, human rights defenders, and election observers also rely on the internet and digital platforms to carry out their critical role of monitoring, documenting, and reporting on election processes.

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition have also noted with concern comments made after the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) committed not to shut down the internet. The Commission threatened people using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access Facebook, which remains blocked in the country since the 2021 elections. The Electoral Commission’s Acting Secretary has also made comments that authorities are left with no choice but to shut down the internet due to the ‘uncontrollable nature’ of election misinformation. We are also alarmed over theUCC’s directivefor Starlink to disable its services in the county  just weeks ahead of the elections. This directive raises serious concerns about the state’s approach to connectivity during politically sensitive periods.

The #KeepItOn coalition welcomes the timely statement by Commissioners of the ACHPR raising concerns about the escalating restrictions on freedom of expression, media freedom, and internet access ahead of the general elections in Uganda.

Uganda’s  history of internet shutdowns

Since 2011, authorities in Uganda have periodically tightened control over the country’s digital space, particularly during elections by partially or completely restricting access to the internet or digital communication platforms.

In 2016, the government of Uganda ordered telecommunications companies to block social media, cut voters off from vital resources, and block mobile money transactions, which millions of citizens rely on daily. Civil society and other stakeholders have sued the Ugandan government and telecom companies involved in both national and regional courts. Unfortunately, court delays, lack of transparency, and ultimately dismissals have led to missed opportunities to set a precedent and prevent further disruptions.

During the 2021 general elections, the government of Uganda imposed a four-day internet blackout, disrupted access to digital communication platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Playstore Apps, as well as blocked access to more than 100 VPNs, cutting millions of people off from each other, and the world. The Ugandan government later restored access to the internet and digital platforms after the election results were announced, with the exception of Facebook, which remains blocked in the country.

The implications of these developments on human rights and democracy are profound. They not only challenge the foundational principles of democracy and civil liberties but also highlight the urgent need for comprehensive policies that protect fundamental rights and promote an open and secure internet for all. As Uganda heads into the elections, it is crucial for your office to actively engage with the relevant institutions within your government, including the UCC and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MMDAs), as well as ISPs, private tech companies, civil society, the media, and people working to advance the rights to freedom of expression and access to information, thereby fostering a truly inclusive democratic process.

Internet shutdowns harm human rights, worsen crises, and disrupt democratic processes

Internet shutdowns violate fundamental human rights, including freedom of opinion and expression, access to information, freedom of assembly, and the right to vote and to participate in democratic processes such as elections. Cutting off internet access during elections limits the flow of crucial, timely information, silences dissent and opposition voices, and hinders scrutiny and transparency of the electoral process. Shutdowns also create information vacuums, further fueling the spread of hateful and inciting speech,  misinformation,  and disinformation.

Moreover, shutdowns during elections make it extremely difficult for journalists to report on the ground and verify information with their sources, leaving people inside and outside Uganda without access to trustworthy, credible information. Shutdowns also make it onerous for journalists and human rights defenders to document and verify atrocities committed, thereby enabling perpetrators to evade accountability. Shutdowns also hinder vital election-monitoring work undertaken by election observers, including Uganda’s Electoral Commission, local and international election observer groups, political parties, media outlets, and civil society.

Monitoring by the #KeepItOn coalition’s Election Watch initiative reveals a troubling truth: internet shutdowns are a recipe for disrupting elections and entrenching the incumbents. Reports from regional and sub-regional election observers underscore the severe impact of these shutdowns on election monitoring, raising questions about the integrity of the election outcomes. For instance, the African Union Election Observation Mission’s preliminary report highlights that Tanzania’s five-day internet blackout during the October 2025 elections blocked citizens’ access to information and severely limited election observers’ ability to monitor critical aspects of the process, including voting, polling station closures, and vote counting.

Additionally, internet shutdowns disrupt people’s lives and daily activities. The 2016 social media shutdown and the 2021 internet blackout in Uganda brought many economic activities and businesses to a halt. People could not access key financial services including mobile money transactions making it impossible to access critical services  such as  payment of utilities, school fees, and healthcare.

Internet shutdowns contravene national and international laws

Internet shutdowns contravene national and international human rights law. The Constitution of Uganda, as well as regional and international frameworks, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Uganda is signatory, protect and promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, assembly, and access to information — both online and offline. The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa 2019 also calls on States not to “engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.”

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has repeatedly underscored the importance of internet connectivity. In 2024, through Resolution 580, the ACHPR called on state parties to ensure open and secure internet access before, during, and after elections. The Commission recently raised concerns about the nationwide internet shutdown in Tanzania during the October elections. It reiterated the importance of the internet in advancing human and peoples’ rights in Africa, particularly with regard to the reality that for elections to be free, fair and credible, the electorate must have access to information at all stages of the electoral process.

Moreover, in 2023, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) condemned election-related shutdowns and underscored that “protecting, respecting, and promoting human rights is essential to foster free and fair elections.” It added that by “obstructing the free flow of information, opinions, and expression […] internet shutdowns threaten the legitimacy of the electoral process” and ultimately undermine public trust. The UN Secretary General and other experts have also affirmed that “blanket internet shutdowns and generic blocking and filtering of services are considered by United Nations human rights mechanisms to violate international human rights law.”  The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has issued four separate judgments finding that the use of internet shutdowns violates human rights, including freedom of expression, in Togo, Nigeria, Senegal, and Guinea. In countries such as Sudan and Zimbabwe, the High Court has ruled that internet shutdowns are unconstitutional.

Telcos must respect human rights

Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, telecommunications companies are responsible for preventing or mitigating potential human rights harms they may cause or contribute to, and for providing remedies when and if such harms occur.  Telecommunications companies and ISPs operating in Uganda — including MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda, Liquid Telecoms, and all other ISPs — must resist any shutdown orders from the government and provide quality, open, and secure access to the internet and digital communication tools throughout the elections and beyond. 

Internet shutdowns should never become the norm, whether in Uganda or elsewhere. We encourage businesses in Uganda to integrate the UN Principles and the OECD Guidelines when responding to censorship and network-disruption requests in any market where they operate.

Recommendations

We call on you, President Museveni, to:

• Publicly assure the people of Uganda that access to the internet, including social media and other digital communications platforms, will remain unrestricted during and after the election.
• Call upon the respective institutions and authorities to refrain from ordering any disruption of telecommunications services, social media platforms, or other digital communication platforms throughout the elections.
• Ensure that telecommunications and ISPs implement all necessary measures to provide high-quality, secure, unrestricted, and uninterrupted internet access throughout the election period and beyond, in line with their quality of service and license conditions.
• Ensure that telecommunications and ISPs inform people in Uganda of any potential technical disruptions during the elections, and take all reasonable steps to remedy any such disruptions likely to impact their service quality. 

Please let us know how the #KeepItOn coalition can support you in upholding an open, secure, inclusive, and accessible internet for all in Uganda.

Signatories: