**Human Rights Watch Calls on Ugandan Authorities to Restore Internet Access Amid Election Shutdown**
*(Nairobi)* – Ugandan authorities should immediately restore internet access and refrain from imposing blanket shutdowns that undermine fundamental rights and threaten election integrity, Human Rights Watch said today.
“Uganda’s constitution and international human rights obligations guarantee access to information and freedom of expression—rights that are especially critical to protect during election periods,” said Tomiwa Ilori, senior technology, rights, and investigations researcher at Human Rights Watch. “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.”
On January 13, 2026, Uganda’s telecommunications regulator, the Uganda Communications Commission, ordered all mobile network operators and internet service providers to suspend public internet access nationwide starting at 6 p.m., two days before the general elections. The directive cited concerns about “online misinformation,” “electoral fraud,” and “preventing incitement of violence that could affect public confidence and national security during the election period.”
The shutdown blocked social media platforms, web browsing, video streaming, personal email services, messaging applications, and most online services, leaving only a narrow list for critical services such as hospital systems, banking networks, tax platforms, utilities, and the electoral commission portal. It also halted SIM card sales and disabled outbound data roaming to One Network Area countries.
Multiple network measurement sources, including Cloudflare Radar and Internet Outage Detection Analysis, have confirmed a significant drop in internet traffic in Uganda following the order.
This internet shutdown is part of a broader crackdown on rights. On January 12, the government ordered at least 10 non-governmental organizations to immediately cease operations indefinitely. Additionally, on December 30, 2025, authorities arrested prominent human rights activist and critic Sarah Bireete.
These actions follow a troubling pattern of election-related internet shutdowns by Ugandan authorities in 2016 and 2021, which blocked access to information and undermined transparency and public confidence in the electoral process. Notably, the five-day internet blackout during the 2021 elections led to a ban on Facebook, which remains in effect.
Previous shutdowns are estimated to have caused billions of Ugandan shillings in economic losses, severely impacting livelihoods—particularly those of small businesses and informal traders who rely heavily on the internet.
Despite repeated calls from international and regional bodies to end this practice, Ugandan authorities have disregarded these appeals. Blanket internet shutdowns during elections severely restrict communication and access to vital information at a critical moment for democracy. They obstruct election monitoring, silence the voices of the electorate, and fail the tests of legality, necessity, and proportionality. According to international human rights law, such shutdowns “can never be justified.”
These shutdowns also violate provisions of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Furthermore, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa states that governments shall not interfere with individuals’ right to internet access.
Human Rights Watch urges Ugandan authorities to restore internet access immediately and commit to refraining from future disruptions in accordance with Uganda’s Constitution and international human rights obligations. Authorities should ensure transparency and accountability throughout the electoral process, including protection for journalists, election observers, and human rights defenders.
Telecommunications companies also bear responsibility. They should respect human rights and align their practices with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Companies should do everything within their power to resist unjustified internet shutdowns, including demanding a legal basis for any shutdown order and seeking to implement the least intrusive restrictions possible.
“Ugandan authorities’ repeated internet shutdowns during elections blatantly violate human rights,” Ilori said. “Uganda’s international partners, including the African Union and East African Community, should urge compliance with human rights standards and support independent monitoring during and after the election period.”
https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/01/15/uganda-blanket-internet-shutdown-violates-rights
