Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Orders Temporary Internet Shutdown Ahead of 2026 Presidential Election

Uganda’s Communications regulator has ordered a temporary suspension of public internet access and selected mobile services nationwide, citing election security concerns ahead of the country’s 2026 presidential polls.

In a directive dated January 13, 2026, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) instructed all licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to enforce the shutdown beginning 6:00 PM local time the same day. The suspension will remain in effect until further notice from the regulator.

What services are being suspended

According to the official letter sent to the networks, operators must temporarily block:

• Public internet access
• Sale and registration of new SIM cards
• Outbound data roaming services to “One Network Area” countries

The UCC says the measure follows a recommendation from the Inter-Agency Security Committee and is intended to curb the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, and electoral fraud risks, as well as prevent potential incitement of violence during the election period.

Scope of the shutdown

The directive orders that all non-essential public internet traffic be blocked. This includes:

• Social media platforms
• Web browsing
• Video streaming
• Personal email services
• Messaging applications

The suspension applies across multiple access technologies, including mobile broadband (cellular), fibre, fixed wireless, microwave radio links, and satellite internet services.

In addition, operators are instructed to disable mobile VPN services, preventing users from bypassing the restrictions. Operators are also prohibited from allowing any public workarounds to the shutdown.

Essential services will remain online

Despite the broad suspension, the UCC has issued a strict exclusion list for systems allowed to remain connected, primarily to preserve national infrastructure and public safety. These include:

Critical public services and infrastructure:

• Healthcare systems and national referral hospitals
• Core banking networks, interbank transfer systems, ATM networks, and tax payment systems
• Government administrative systems, including immigration services, electoral commission portals, voter verification, and results tabulation systems
• Utilities management systems for electricity, water, and fuel distribution
• Transport and aviation control systems, including air traffic control and railway signalling
• SIM swap and SIM upgrade systems operating within existing regulations

Network operations and cybersecurity tools:

• Network Operations Centers (NOCs)
• Core routing and diagnostics systems
• Fault detection and bandwidth monitoring tools
• Cross-border IP transit services
• Intrusion detection and prevention systems
• Security event monitoring platforms
• Vulnerability scanning and compliance systems
• Regulatory reporting portals for real-time compliance submissions

Access to these excluded systems must be restricted to authorized personnel only, implemented through whitelisted IP ranges, VPNs, or private circuits.

Enforcement and penalties

Operators that fail to implement the directive must shut down their entire internet infrastructure for the duration of the suspension. The UCC warns that non-compliance will attract severe sanctions, including fines and potential license suspension.

Operators are also required to:

• Verify no public-facing services can bypass the suspension
• Establish 24/7 incident response teams
• Maintain detailed logs of all traffic on excluded systems
• Report technical incidents or breaches to UCC within 30 minutes

Service restoration will only occur after explicit written notice from the UCC, with a phased restoration plan to be issued later.

Official sign-off

The directive is signed by Hon. Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission, who acknowledged operational challenges but called for full cooperation “in upholding national stability during this sensitive period.”

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A familiar election-period tactic

Uganda has previously implemented internet restrictions during election cycles, but this directive outlines one of the most technically detailed and tightly controlled shutdown frameworks yet — extending beyond social media blocks into full public internet suspension while preserving core infrastructure and financial systems.

For businesses, digital service providers, fintech platforms, online retailers, and remote workers, the shutdown will mean temporary loss of public connectivity, with only pre-approved enterprise and government networks remaining reachable.

For ordinary citizens, access to social media, messaging apps, streaming platforms, and general browsing will go dark — at least until the UCC issues a restoration notice.