Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced on Monday that access to social media platforms will be fully restored, ending the country’s post-election internet blackout. Kainerugaba, who is President Yoweri Museveni’s son, thanked Ugandans for their “support and cooperation” throughout the electoral period.
The restoration follows days of restricted social media access, which drew criticism from opposition leaders, civil society groups, and digital rights advocates, who accused the government of suppressing dissent and controlling information during the elections. Partial access had been allowed last week to facilitate economic activities after Museveni secured another controversial victory.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine previously reported a military and police raid on his home in Magere, which he narrowly escaped. Wine said some of his family members remained detained and linked confusion about his whereabouts to the nationwide internet shutdown. He also rejected the results of the recent presidential election, describing them as fraudulent.
The government maintains the shutdown was a security measure, with the Uganda Communications Commission citing the need to prevent “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks.”
