Uganda Orders Nationwide Internet Suspension for Election Period

Overview

• The suspension took effect Tuesday at 6 p.m. local time under a Uganda Communications Commission order that will remain in place until explicit written authorization to restore service.
• The directive, signed by Executive Director Nyombi Thembo, compels operators to block non-essential traffic including social media, halt new SIM registrations, and disable outbound data roaming.
• Only tightly whitelisted systems for critical health, finance, government administration, utilities, transport and network security may operate, with access limited to authorized staff on non‑mobile connections.
• Providers must submit whitelists, maintain detailed traffic logs, staff 24‑hour incident teams, and report suspected breaches within 30 minutes or face sanctions including fines or possible license suspension.
• NetBlocks reported a nation‑scale connectivity disruption, as arrests around opposition activity persist and President Yoweri Museveni seeks a seventh term against challenger Bobi Wine.