Overview
- The Uganda Communications Commission directed operators to cut public internet access starting Tuesday at 6pm local time and said the suspension will remain until further notice.
- The order also stops the sale and registration of new SIM cards as well as outbound data roaming services across the country.
- Internet monitor NetBlocks reported a nationwide disruption after the directive, saying Uganda is in the midst of a widespread shutdown.
- The UN Human Rights Office and Amnesty International urged authorities to restore connectivity, arguing the restrictions curtail free expression and could undermine election oversight.
- Residents, particularly young people who rely on messaging apps for work and communication, report being unable to function normally, with concerns shaped by a 2021 election period that saw a week-long blackout and deadly violence.