The Ugandan government has restored internet access in the country after the Government shut it down ahead of the national election. Last week, the Uganda Communications Commission ordered telecommunications companies to immediately suspend any access and use of social media and online messaging platforms – gradually Facebook and other social platforms were shutdowns before finally the entire country was disconnected.
In an official tweet, NetBlocks, an internet freedom monitor, revealed that 13% of the East African country is seemingly back online. Netblocks also says that such a blackout could have already cost the Ugandan economy around $9 million. President Museveni was re-elected for a sixth term, despite “widespread allegations of fraud and intimidation”. Reports suggest that Museveni’s rule has been challenged over the years through protests and potential rivals. Recently, however, “a key tactic in curtailing opposition has been to control Ugandans’ access to the internet“.
Read also:Raxio Data Centre Uganda Gets Uptime Institute Tier III Certification
“After a brutal, months-long crackdown on the media, Uganda’s internet disruption is the latest attempt to keep the country’s citizens in the dark … and to prevent journalists from reporting on events surrounding the vote,” Muthoki Mumo, a regional representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement.
Read also:Hackers attack Airtel, MTN and Stanbic Bank in Uganda
“Ugandan authorities should reverse course and take steps to ensure unrestricted internet access and guarantee that the public is adequately informed during the post-election period.”
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry