Uganda blocks access to the internet and SIM card registration while elections are going on
Uganda’s communications regulator shuts down the internet for a short time to stop spreading false information and protect national security during the polls.
Concerns about national security led Uganda’s Communications Commission (UCC) to temporarily shut down public internet access and some mobile services during the country’s election time.
The UCC said in an order released on Tuesday that the decision was made based on suggestions from the Inter-Agency Security Committee. The committee was worried about false and misleading information, election fraud, and threats to national security during the elections.
The order is for all licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). It covers access to the public internet, the sale and registration of new SIM cards, and data roaming services to other countries.
The UCC said the goal of the move is to “slow down the rapid spread of online false information that could hurt public trust and mess up the voting process.”
The suspension began at 6 p.m. on January 13, 2026, and will last until the regulator gives further warning. All public internet activity that isn’t necessary should be blocked during this time.
It was made clear by the UCC that the shutdown includes many platforms, such as messaging apps, social media sites, web viewing, video streaming, and personal email services. It also impacts mobile broadband services like cell phones, fiber optics, fixed wireless access, microwave radio lines, and satellite internet.
The commission did say, though, that a very specific list of exemptions had been made so that people could still use certain services and systems that were needed for tracking and managing networks. Only authorized users will be able to access these exempted systems through safe and whitelisted channels, such as virtual private networks and dedicated IP ranges.
The UCC warned that any operator caught breaking the exemption rules would have their services immediately cut off.
The order shows that the Ugandan government is taking a more comprehensive approach to election security, putting public safety, important national functions, and the continued operation of communication infrastructure at the top of its list of priorities.
