What You Need to Know
The Ugandan government has imposed new restrictions on the import of Starlink satellite internet devices ahead of the January 15 elections. Critics fear a repeat of internet shutdowns seen in the 2021 elections. President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his nearly four-decade rule against opposition leader Bobi Wine, who has previously alleged electoral fraud.
Africa. The Ugandan government has imposed new restrictions on the import of satellite internet devices from Starlink ahead of the general elections scheduled for January 15. Opponents fear a repeat of the internet shutdowns that occurred during the 2021 elections.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is seeking to extend his nearly four-decade rule against his rival, former musician and opposition politician Bobi Wine, 43, who is running for the second time after finishing second in the last election and rejecting its results, accusing the authorities of fraud, which Museveni denies.
The new restrictions first appeared in a leaked memo from the Ugandan Revenue Authority dated December 19, which circulated on social media before the authority later confirmed its authenticity.
The memo states that any imports of “Starlink devices and related equipment” must receive prior approval from the army commander, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Museveni.
However, the authority attempted to downplay the impact of the decision, noting that several countries impose controls on the entry of communication technologies, while Starlink has not yet obtained official permission to operate in Uganda, although some citizens have managed to bring in and use the devices illegally.
In response, opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, described the restrictions as “ridiculous,” stating on the platform X, “If they have no intention of manipulating the elections, why are they afraid of people accessing the internet during the electoral process?”
Uganda has a history of political tension, particularly surrounding elections. In 2021, internet access was restricted during the electoral process, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. The current restrictions on Starlink imports come as President Museveni faces opposition from Bobi Wine, a former musician turned politician, who has been vocal against the government’s actions.
