Ugandans are bracing for a digital blackout after the government officially ordered a nationwide shutdown of public internet access and selected mobile services, beginning Tuesday evening, in a move linked to election-period security concerns.
The directive, issued by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to all Mobile Network Operators and Internet Service Providers, follows recommendations from the Inter-Agency Security Committee. Authorities say the measure is aimed at safeguarding national security and preventing election-related unrest.
Internet to go dark at 6:00PM Tuesday
According to the official order, the suspension takes effect on Tuesday, 13 January 2026 at exactly 6:00PM and will remain in force until the UCC announces a formal restoration notice.
The decision comes just days after the Ministry of ICT had publicly assured citizens there would be no internet shutdown during the election period — a reversal that has now stunned many.
During the blackout, telecom operators must block all non-essential public internet traffic, including social media, messaging apps, video streaming, web browsing and personal email services.
All major internet channels affected
The shutdown covers mobile data, fibre optic networks, leased lines, fixed wireless access, microwave radio links and satellite internet services.
Additionally, the government has halted the sale and registration of new SIM cards and suspended outbound data roaming to One Network Area (ONA) countries for the duration of the blackout.
Operators have also been instructed to disable mobile VPN services and block any public bypass mechanisms. Service providers unable to fully implement the directive have been ordered to switch off their entire internet infrastructure, with failure to comply attracting heavy penalties, including fines and possible licence suspension.
The UCC says the shutdown is intended to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation, prevent potential electoral fraud, and reduce risks of incitement to violence that could undermine public confidence and national security during the elections.
Despite the sweeping blackout, selected essential services will remain online through non-mobile internet connections only. These include national referral hospital systems, core banking and interbank payment platforms, tax systems, immigration databases, Electoral Commission secure networks, utilities management systems and aviation control services.
Cybersecurity monitoring and regulatory reporting platforms are also exempted, but access is restricted to authorised personnel using whitelisted secure connections.
Telecom operators must set up 24-hour incident response teams, keep detailed logs for exempted traffic and report any breaches to UCC within 30 minutes. Internet services will only return after explicit written clearance from the commission.
Authorities admit the shutdown will cause disruption but insist it is a necessary step to maintain stability during what they describe as a highly sensitive national period.
Uganda now heads into election week with the country’s digital space set to go completely silent.