Ugandan authorities partially restored internet access across the country late Saturday, ending a days-long shutdown that disrupted banking, trade, transport bookings, and other online services. The reconnection, reported around 11 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), followed the re-election of President Yoweri Museveni, 81, in a controversial vote that extends his rule into a fifth decade.
Telecom operators said the restoration was aimed at resuming economic activity, although social media platforms remain blocked. “We have restored internet so that businesses that rely on the internet can resume work,” said David Birungi, Airtel Uganda spokesperson, noting that the move came under a directive from the national regulator.
The government defended the blackout as a security measure to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks,” but opposition leaders, including presidential contender Bobi Wine, criticized it as a tactic to limit scrutiny of the election. Wine said he narrowly escaped a military and police raid on his home in Magere on Friday night while some family members remained detained.
The partial internet restoration alleviated pressure on businesses, but uncertainty persists over when full access, including social media, will resume. The episode highlights the economic and societal impact of digital shutdowns during politically sensitive periods in Uganda.
