As Uganda inches closer to another national vote, familiar anxieties have resurfaced. Not about ballot papers or polling stations, but whether the internet itself will survive polling day. With elections set for January 15, many Ugandans say the prospect of a vote without an internet shutdown feels almost fictional. Internet blackouts marked the 2016 and […]
As Uganda inches closer to another national vote, familiar anxieties have resurfaced. Not about ballot papers or polling stations, but whether the internet itself will survive polling day.
With elections set for January 15, many Ugandans say the prospect of a vote without an internet shutdown feels almost fictional. Internet blackouts marked the 2016 and 2021 elections, and for many citizens, the possibility of a repeat has quietly become part of the country’s electoral tradition.
That anxiety intensified this week after a fake document circulated widely on social media claiming that internet access, banking systems and mobile money services would be switched off as early as January 8. The Uganda Communications Commission quickly dismissed the document as a forgery, branding it deliberate disinformation aimed at causing panic.
Government officials have since moved to calm public nerves, insisting there is no directive in place to shut down the internet during the forthcoming elections. Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday, the UCC ED Nyombi Thembo and PS Ministry of ICT both dismissed the allegations.
“The government has not announced, directed or implemented any decision to shut down the internet during the election period,” said Thembo
According to the regulator, any decision to suspend internet services would ordinarily be informed by consultations among key stakeholders, including consumers, telecom operators and government. None of these, UCC noted, has raised concerns warranting such an action.
“Consumers have not indicated that they want the internet switched off. The operators have also not told us they have any problems.
He furthr stated that telecom companies rely heavily on data services as a core source of revenue and would have little incentive to support a shutdown.
Thembo also stated that no government agency has issued instructions related to the closure or restriction of internet services.
“Nobody in government has told us anything even remotely related to switching off the internet,” the regulator said.
When pressed by journalists on what typically informs internet shutdowns during elections, officials offered limited clarity, pointing instead to “circumstances that prevailed” during previous polls. They said current efforts are focused on educating users on responsible internet use and guarding against misinformation.
“So far, there is no indication that the internet will be switched off,” UCC maintained.
However, even as it denied plans for a shutdown, the regulator issued stern reminders to the media, warning that responsible coverage during the election period is not optional. Media houses were cautioned against live broadcasting or live streaming of riots, unlawful processions or violent incidents, which UCC said are prohibited.
Thembo also warned journalists against publishing polling figures or election results unless they originate from the Electoral Commission. UCC said it would soon issue a directive requiring all election result announcements to clearly state that the figures have been verified by the Electoral Commission.
“And every piece of results you announce on radio, television or online must be from the Electoral Commission,” officials said.
With just days to the polls, the government insists there are currently no plans or justifications for an internet shutdown. Yet for many observers, the simultaneous assurances and tightened media restrictions have done little to fully dispel unease, leaving the question of digital freedom during elections lingering firmly in the public mind.
