Uganda shut down the internet two days before the presidential elections. President Yoweri Museveni is aiming for a seventh term.

On January 13, the authorities in Uganda decided to block internet access nationwide, two days before the elections in which President Yoweri Museveni, in power for 40 years, is seeking to win a seventh term. Museveni, at the age of 81, is facing a popular opponent, Bobi Wine, who has managed to attract large crowds to his rallies, despite violent repression from security forces.

On the day of Museveni's final rally in Kampala, access for international journalists was restricted, and many opposition supporters were arrested. The internet was shut down to prevent "misinformation" and "incitement to violence," according to a statement from the Uganda Communications Commission. This is not the first time Uganda has blocked the internet during elections, considering that a similar measure was taken in 2021, when the vote was marked by allegations of fraud and state violence. This situation reflects a broader trend in the region, where other countries, such as Tanzania, have imposed similar restrictions during elections.