This form of social control is a growing trend in the continent according to a new open access source book. One of the authors explains why they are happening COMMENT | TONY ROBERTS | How do you define an internet shutdown, and why do they happen? Put simply, an internet shutdown is …
Read More »How the transformative power of internet access is bridging Uganda’s digital divide
COMMENT | TIMOTHY MUGENYI | I am reminded of an interaction I had in the rural setting of Nakivale refugee camp. We stopped by a Rolex stand and spoke with some young gentlemen who were deeply engrossed in a video whilst sharing a smartphone. When we asked if they …
Read More »The cost of Uganda’s internet shutdown
Freedom of speech, constitutional rights, electoral transparency and business loss Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | On the evening of Jan 13, two days to a highly anticipated presidential election, Uganda went off grid as the government through the Uganda Communications Commission shut down the internet leaving millions of people …
Read More »Why it is hard to avoid the internet in the world today
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | When the Government of Uganda shut down internet access for four days during the recent election week, it reignited a national debate about how deeply digital connectivity has become embedded in modern life. Authorities, through the Uganda Communications Commission, justified the decision as necessary to curb …
Read More »The hidden costs of Uganda’s internet blackout
Uganda’s economy is now deeply digitized. Mobile money platforms alone process hundreds of billions of shillings daily, serving as the primary financial arteries for the informal sector, which employs over 70% of the population. COMMENT | ALEX ATWEMEREIREHO | In the early hours of 13 January 2026, just 48 hours before …
Read More »Uganda restores internet connection after five-day shutdown
KAMPALA | Xinhua | Uganda restored internet services on Sunday after a five-day nationwide shutdown imposed during the general elections, a move authorities said was intended to curb the misuse of online platforms. Ibrahim Bbosa, a spokesperson for the Uganda Communications Commission, confirmed the restoration. “Yes, the internet is back,” …
Read More »Uganda internet connection partially restored after 5-day shutdown
KAMPALA, UGANDA | Xinhua | Uganda restored internet services on Sunday after a five-day nationwide shutdown imposed during the general elections, a move authorities said was intended to curb the misuse of online platforms. Ibrahim Bbosa, a spokesperson for the Uganda Communications Commission, confirmed the restoration. “Yes, the internet is …
Read More »ELECTIONS: Internet shutdown due in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Communications Commission executive director Nyombi Thembo will at a special press conference Tuesday evening officially confirm a directive to all licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to temporarily suspend several telecommunications services, citing security concerns ahead of Thursday’s …
Read More »How internet connectivity is redefining newlywed bliss in Uganda
COMMENT | JOSEPH BYARUHANGA | The dust has finally settled after the grand kwanjula and the joyful ululations of a white wedding. The photos have been shared, and the last plate of leftover cake has been eaten. Many Ugandan newlyweds dream of exotic honeymoons in Zanzibar, Dubai, or the Maldives, …
Read More »Power, internet challenges hampering health Services at Kabale hospital
KABALE, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | Low internet bandwidth and intermittent power supply are hampering the effectiveness of digital health services and CT scan operations at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital. In late 2023, the Ministry of Health rolled out the Digitization and Health Information System to streamline patient management, prescriptions, …
Read More »
The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price