Uganda Shuts Down Internet as President Museveni seeks to extend 40 year rule
While government officials privately confirmed the order to AFP, the administration has avoided making a public announcement, reportedly to distance itself from the controversial decision.
The timing of the disconnection heightens tensions as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his four-decade rule against a familiar challenger, singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine.
The blackout, which commenced at 6:00 pm local time, marks a stark reversal of recent government promises. Authorities had previously dismissed reports of an impending shutdown as "false" rumors designed to spread fear among the electorate. This suspension echoes the state’s actions during the 2021 election, a period marred by allegations of vote-rigging and a heavy-handed crackdown on the opposition.
Essential state services remain exempt from the current order, which is set to stay in effect indefinitely until a restoration notice is issued.
With the internet disabled, concerns are mounting regarding the transparency of Thursday's vote and the ability of monitors to report irregularities in real-time. As the country moves toward the polls in digital silence, the move is being widely viewed by critics as a strategy to stifle dissent and limit the flow of information during one of the most contested periods in Uganda’s political history.
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