What You Need to Know
Ugandan authorities have denied reports of plans to cut internet access during next week’s elections. Opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, has raised concerns about potential government actions to hinder communication and election results dissemination.
Africa. Ugandan authorities have denied reports suggesting plans to cut internet access during next week’s elections. The main opposition candidate reiterated last week claims that the government would block internet services to prevent his supporters from mobilizing and disseminating election results.
On Friday, Starlink, the satellite internet provider, restricted its services in Uganda based on an order from the communications regulatory authority, raising these concerns further.
President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule in the elections scheduled for January 15. His strongest competitor is Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, a former pop star.
These elections are a repeat of the 2021 elections, which saw widespread protests resulting in dozens of deaths, while internet services were cut for four days.
Meanwhile, the government has banned live broadcasts of riots and “illegal processions” and other violent incidents ahead of the elections, claiming that this could “escalate tensions and spread panic.”
However, the head of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) stated that reports of a potential internet shutdown are “just rumors,” emphasizing that the agency’s role is to ensure continuous internet connectivity across the country.
The UCC executive director, Nyombi Thembo, told Capital FM in Kampala: “As of now, there is no decision to cut internet access.” This view was also confirmed by the senior official in the Ministry of Communications and National Guidance, Amina Zawedde.
She stated: “The government has not announced, issued any directives, or implemented any decision to cut internet access during the election period,” describing the reports as false and misleading, which could incite panic. She also warned against spreading false or inciting content.
Zawedde added: “Digital platforms are not exempt from the law,” noting that the Computer Misuse Act fully applies to online behavior, including the dissemination of false information and abusive messages.
She confirmed that only the electoral commission is authorized to announce results, and broadcasting unverified or premature results is illegal. She added: “Freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly and within the law.”
Despite these reassurances, the National Unity Platform, the main opposition party, has launched an offline voting monitoring app in anticipation of potential power outages. The party leader, Bobi Wine, unveiled the app named “Pitchart.”
He stated that the app uses Bluetooth technology to share images of results forms from polling stations and voting data without needing internet access.
In his New Year’s address, he said: “As we all know, the regime plans to cut internet access, as it did in previous elections, to disrupt communication and prevent citizens from organizing, verifying results, and demanding accountability.”
Amid rising political tensions, Amnesty International has accused Ugandan security forces of using torture and arbitrary arrests to intimidate opposition supporters. The organization claims to have evidence of National Unity Platform supporters, led by Bobi Wine, being beaten and tear-gassed.
Museveni first came to power in 1986 when his rebel forces entered the capital, Kampala. Since then, he has been elected six times amid opposition allegations of rigging and intimidation, which the government has denied.
Uganda has a history of political unrest, particularly during election periods. The 2021 elections were marked by widespread protests and internet blackouts, leading to numerous casualties. President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, has faced allegations of electoral fraud and repression from opposition groups, which have intensified calls for accountability and transparency in the electoral process.
The upcoming elections on January 15, 2024, are seen as a critical moment for Uganda’s democracy. With the opposition mobilizing against Museveni’s long-standing rule, concerns about government tactics to suppress dissent and control information flow have become increasingly prominent.
