Internet Shutdowns

Ahead of the Ugandan 2021 general elections, Reuters,  NYTimes, and AccessNow reported orders to limit access to social media platforms, particularly Facebook. This is not the first time Uganda orders social media services shutdown during elections, MTN Uganda reported a similar order in 2016.

However, as of 16:10UTC on 13th January 2021, we started noticing wider Internet shutdown across the country. Over the next days, the shutdown was covered in multiple media outlets, including:

• https://qz.com/africa/1957137/uganda-cuts-off-internet-ahead-of-election-polls-opening/
• https://cpj.org/2021/01/internet-access-cut-social-media-banned-during-uganda-elections
• https://www.cio.co.ke/how-much-is-an-internet-shutdown-worth/
• Analysis from RIPE NCChttps://labs.ripe.net/Members/becha/our-first-glance-at-the-uganda-internet-shutdown

As of 8:00UTC 18 January 2021, Internet traffic started to get back to normal indicating the end of the total shutdown, however, reports indicated that blocking of social media sites is still active.

Update: After several tests, we confirm that internet restoration in #Uganda is just partial. Most of the major social media websites & apps are inaccessible.

We demand @UCC_Official to fully restore the internet!#KeepItOn #internetshutdown #UgandaInternetShutdown https://t.co/Ksi1CGzaj3 pic.twitter.com/9I9ucbgM8p

— UnwantedWitness (@UnwantedWitness) January 18, 2021

IFEX

The #KeepItOn coalition clarion call on Uganda's government not to shut down the internet ahead of voting today falls on deaf ears as Ugandans go to the polls amid backdrop of internet shutdown! https://t.co/hwHX7JybnW

— IFEX (@IFEX) January 14, 2021

OONI

Today, on election day, #Uganda remains disconnected from the internet as the country continues to experience a widespread internet blackout.

This is visible through several data sources:https://t.co/YOgDMf2EZphttps://t.co/Xm8DZKrXQKhttps://t.co/MZyP7CufmO#UgandaDecides2021 pic.twitter.com/OWL0ELGTd3

— OONI (@OpenObservatory) January 14, 2021

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy
for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

#InternetShutdown

At least 17.5 million internet subscribers in the country have been locked out of the internet. #Uganda has since 2006 disrupted digital communications in some form during every election.#UgandaDecides2021 #KeepItOn #InternetFreedomAfrica pic.twitter.com/spFKJgITcE

— CIPESA (@cipesaug) January 14, 2021