By Derek Vanbuskirk
Ugandan religious leaders and opposition party members face arrests, heightened security and an internet blackout heading into Thursday’s presidential elections.
Screenshots and photos circulating in Uganda show a statement from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) allegedly announcing that all mobile money and internet services would be suspended during the electoral process. OkayAfrica reported the internet would be suspended Tuesday to curb misinformation, electoral fraud and incitement, adding that armed forces had been deployed across Kampala. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Somali Official Shows How Entrenched The ‘Fraud Pipeline’ Really Is)
The UCC wrongly denied these claims, publishing a statement on Jan. 3 calling the notice “fake and not issued by the Commission.”
“Big national moments like this election season test more than our patience; they test our judgment, too,” a UCC statement said. “In the rush of headlines and forwarded messages, it’s easy to confuse noise for news. Uganda deserves conversations anchored in the objectivity of facts, not excitement and hunger for likes. We all need to slow down, cross-check to verify, and keep our public space honest.”
However, NetBlocks, which maps internet freedom in real time, confirmed that “live network data show a nation-scale disruption to internet connectivity” in Uganda.
The UCC released a statement Wednesday reminding news agencies and social media accounts that announcing the election results from any source other than the Electoral Commission is legally prohibited.
On Jan. 6, the UCC warned against “fake news” heading into the election while announcing that Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, had been cut off in the country for failing to meet UCC regulations.
“The government has not announced, directed, or implemented any decision to shut down the internet during the election period,” Aminah Zawedde, permanent secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said in the statement. “Such misinformation unnecessarily creates fear, undermines public confidence, and risks heightening tension at a critical national moment.”
Uganda faced a similar blackout during its last election. NetBlocks reported the country’s internet went dark from Jan. 13-18, 2021, after the UCC restricted access. Reuters reported at the time that it had seen a letter from the UCC ordering internet service providers to block all social media platforms and messaging apps until further notice.
Young supporters of Uganda’s incumbent president and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni hold electoral posters and chant slogans as they queue to enter the rally grounds ahead of the party’s closing campaign rally ahead of the 2026 Ugandan general elections, in Kampala on January 13, 2026. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
Other actions have been taken against Christians and political rivals of 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni, who seeks his seventh term Thursday.
The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda shared concerns in late November over arrests of opposition supporters, campaign disruptions, violence and a lack of response from the Electoral Commission, according to NTV Uganda. The council said many candidates describe difficulty moving freely to meet with supporters, making it harder for voters to engage with differing political views.
“Over time, these patterns discourage participation, fuel apathy, and deepen the sense that elections are predetermined rather than competitive,” the council said.
In December, Uganda’s military confirmed holding Catholic priest Father Deusdedit Ssekabira for “violent subversive activities” two weeks after he disappeared, according to AfricaNews.
I am joining Bishop of Masaka Rt Rev Jjumba in prayer for Father Deusdedit who was abducted and disappeared by uganda security forces.
Praying for #SamMugumya abducted too and has been missing for more than 3 months now.
Praying for an end to violence, militarism & dictatorship pic.twitter.com/zFmzFD6rbE— Winnie Byanyima (@Winnie_Byanyima) December 14, 2025
Local church leaders called for Ssekabira’s immediate release, with one bishop calling it a “grievous wound” for the church and his family, AfricaNews reported.
Open Doors reported that Ugandan persecution of Christians and harassment of political opposition during elections goes back at least a decade.
“I will vote because it is my right,” Lunyolo, a 33-year-old mother of three, told Religion News Service, as local church leaders advocate for nonviolence and political involvement. “But many people are afraid. We hear about arrests and blocked rallies. You wonder if the results are already decided.”
Museveni’s chief opponent is 43-year-old former pop star Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who goes by Bobi Wine and draws tens of thousands of especially young voters where they are permitted to gather, Religion News Service reported
