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Ugandan authorities chopped net entree and constricted mobile services across the state connected Tuesday (January 13, 2026), 2 days earlier an predetermination successful which President Yoweri Museveni volition basal for a contentious seventh word aft 4 decades successful power.
The Uganda Communications Commission ordered mobile work providers to unopen down nationalist net connections from 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) connected Tuesday (January 13, 2026) successful bid to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks”, according to a missive seen by Reuters.
Security forces person detained hundreds of absorption supporters successful the run-up to the predetermination and repeatedly fired unrecorded bullets and teardrop state astatine run events successful enactment of Museveni’s starring challenger, popular prima Bobi Wine.
“The UCC acknowledges the operational challenges this directive whitethorn enforce and appreciates your afloat practice successful upholding nationalist stableness during this delicate period,” the UCC said successful the missive dated Tuesday (January 13, 2026) and addressed to Licensed Mobile Operators and Internet Service Providers.
The 81-year-old Museveni, who came to powerfulness successful 1986 aft starring a five-year rebellion, is Africa’s third-longest ruling caput of state.
He has changed the constitution doubly to region property and word limits, and his dominance of Ugandan institutions means determination is small prospect of an predetermination upset successful the East African state of 46 million people, governmental analysts say.
Watchdogs person spoken astir rights violation
Uganda’s net went retired astatine 6 p.m. section time, a Reuters witness confirmed.
The authorities besides aboriginal connected Tuesday (January 13, 2026) ordered 2 section rights groups to cease operations earlier Thursday’s election, which the United Nations Human Rights Office says is taking spot successful an ambiance of repression and intimidation.
The 2 groups had denounced the alleged arbitrary detention and torture of absorption supporters and journalists.
The state-run National Bureau for NGOs said successful a missive to 1 of the groups, Chapter Four Uganda, that it was recovered to beryllium progressive successful activities “prejudicial” to Uganda’s information and “should cease operations ... with contiguous effect”.
Robert Ssempala, who heads the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U), told Reuters helium had received the aforesaid missive ordering his organisation to halt operating.
Stephen Okello, caput of the State NGO bureau, confirmed to Reuters that helium had written the letters.
Reports of arbitary arrests
The U.N. Human Rights Office said successful a study connected Friday (January 9, 2026) that Uganda’s constabulary and military had utilized unrecorded ammunition to disperse peaceful rallies, carried retired arbitrary detentions and abducted absorption supporters up of the vote.
A Ugandan authorities spokesperson did not respond to a petition for remark connected the report.
Mr. Museveni’s authorities has defended the information forces’ actions arsenic a justified effect to what it called lawless behaviour by absorption supporters.
