National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has taken his fight beyond Uganda’s borders, calling out tech billionaire Elon Musk over the sudden shutdown of Starlink internet services just days to the January 15 general election.
In a blunt message shared on his X platform (formerly Twitter) , Bobi Wine highlighted what he described as a troubling contradiction.
“As you cheer the fall of a dictator in Venezuela, here in Uganda your Starlink has disabled citizens’ access to the internet,” he said, warning that the move is choking Uganda’s already fragile democracy.
According to Bobi Wine, the timing could not be worse. Ugandans are preparing to vote in an election he says is meant to peacefully end President Yoweri Museveni’s nearly 40-year rule.
The opposition leader and presidential candidate accused the Museveni government of running a dictatorship defined by suppressed free expression, persecution of opposition figures, mass killings, and widespread human rights abuses. He argued that cutting off internet access only deepens the crisis by silencing citizens when their voices matter most.
Bobi Wine urged Elon Musk and Starlink to immediately restore internet services, saying access to communication and information is essential for a free and fair election.
“Democracy dies in darkness,” he warned.
His outcry comes just days after Starlink confirmed suspending its operations in Uganda, citing regulatory issues raised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
In a letter dated January 1, 2026, Starlink’s Director for Market Access, Ben MacWilliams, said the company has never been licensed to sell, market, import, or distribute Starlink services in Uganda.
He explained that although some Ugandans were using Starlink, the equipment was bought and activated in countries where the service is authorized, then illegally brought into Uganda, violating local laws.
As a result, Starlink activated a new restriction tool on January 1, 2026, disabling all active Starlink terminals inside the country.
The move followed a December 19, 2025 directive from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) ordering customs officers to block the importation and clearance of Starlink equipment unless cleared with special authorization from the UPDF, citing national security concerns.
As the election countdown continues, attention now turns to Elon Musk and Starlink and whether Bobi Wine’s call will be answered before Ugandans head to the polls.
Stay tuned for more updates here.
