Uganda lifts nationwide internet ban but keeps social media blocked after Museveni win

Uganda has lifted its nationwide internet block, effective Sunday, but continues to restrict social media platforms following President Yoweri Museveni's declared victory in the January 17, 2026 presidential election. The internet was blocked two days before polls opened on Thursday. Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director George Nyombi Thembo confirmed the return of most internet services, while justifying the prolonged suspension as 'necessary and proportionate' to curb 'misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation' and prevent potential electoral fraud and violence during the sensitive period. Thembo declined to provide a timeline for restoring full access, stating he doesn't want to 'put an estimate'. This election was characterized by low voter turnout and heavy security deployments across Kampala. While much of the country remained calm, AFP journalists heard tear gas during small-scale protests in the capital late Saturday. By Sunday morning, security presence in Kampala had significantly decreased, with people on the streets and shops open. Analysts have long viewed the Ugandan election as a formality, with the 81-year-old Museveni maintaining total control over state and security apparatus. The government sought to prevent protests similar to those seen in neighboring Tanzania during its October 2025 polls. The UN had previously labelled Uganda's decision to block the internet 'deeply worrying'.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/18/uganda-maintains-social-media-ban-after-election/