Human Rights Watch has urged Ugandan authorities to immediately restore nationwide internet access, warning that the ongoing shutdown poses a serious threat to the integrity of Thursday’s general elections.
The call followed a directive issued on 13 January by the Uganda Communications Commission ordering all mobile network operators and internet service providers to cut public access to the internet two days before the polls.
The blackout has blocked social media platforms, messaging apps, email services, web browsing and most online tools, leaving only limited access for essential services such as hospitals, banks, utilities and the electoral commission.
Tomiwa Ilori, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the shutdown violates constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations.
“Immediate restoration of full connectivity, together with clear commitments against future shutdowns, is essential to safeguard transparency and the integrity of the vote in Uganda,” Ilori said
Network monitoring platforms, including Cloudflare Radar and the Internet Outage Detection and Analysis project, have confirmed a sharp drop in Uganda’s internet traffic since the order took effect.
The suspension of services also halted SIM card sales and disabled outbound data roaming to neighbouring One Network Area countries.
The blackout comes amid a broader clampdown on civic space ahead of the election.
On 12 January, authorities ordered at least 10 NGOs to cease operations indefinitely, and in late December arrested prominent human rights activist Sarah Bireete.
Uganda has a history of election‑period internet restrictions.
Authorities shut down the internet for five days during the 2021 polls, a move that resulted in a continuing ban on Facebook and significant economic losses for small businesses reliant on digital platforms.
Similar disruptions were recorded during the 2016 elections.
Human Rights Watch noted that blanket shutdowns obstruct election monitoring, restrict communication and silence voters at a critical moment.
The organisation said such measures fail tests of legality, necessity and proportionality under international law, and contravene Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The group also called on telecommunications companies to push back against unjustified shutdown orders and to align their actions with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Ilori said Uganda’s regional and international partners, including the African Union and the East African Community, should press authorities to uphold human rights standards and support independent monitoring during and after the election period.
Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni is bidding for a record seventh term.
JN/APA