The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has come out strongly to rubbish viral reports claiming government is planning a second nationwide internet shutdown, branding the widely shared screenshot as fake and deliberately misleading.
In a sharply worded statement released on Monday 19th January 2026 , the regulator warned individuals behind the false alert to immediately stop spreading misinformation, stressing that such actions carry legal consequences.
“Our attention has been drawn to a screenshot circulating online that claims a ‘second internet lockdown’. It is fake and deliberately misleading,” the Commission stated.
UCC urged Ugandans to rely only on official communication channels for verified updates, especially amid ongoing post-election tension, insisting that no new internet shutdown has been announced.
The denial comes against the backdrop of the recent election-period blackout, when authorities previously dismissed shutdown plans on 9 January 2026 only for internet access to be cut days later, disrupting key services including mobile money for nearly a week.
Internet services were partially restored on 18 January 2026 following heavy international pressure, including condemnation from rights groups such as Amnesty International over alleged violations during the blackout