NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13 – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has directed all licensed mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) to suspend public internet access and certain mobile services, citing national security and electoral integrity concerns.
In a notice sent to service providers on Tuesday, UCC said the suspension will take effect from 6:00 pm on 13th January and remain in force until further notice. The directive covers public internet access, the sale and registration of new SIM cards, and outbound data roaming to One Network Area countries.
The commission said the move follows a strong recommendation from the Inter-Agency Security Committee to prevent the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud, and incitement of violence during the election period.
“During this period, all non-essential public internet traffic must be blocked,” UCC stated. This includes social media platforms, web browsing, video streaming, personal email services, and messaging applications across mobile broadband, fibre optic, leased lines, fixed wireless, microwave radio links, and satellite internet services.
To ensure critical services continue to operate, the UCC has issued a strict exclusion list. Essential systems allowed to remain online include healthcare systems at national referral hospitals, core banking and financial payment networks, government administrative portals, electoral commission systems, utilities management, and transportation control systems such as air traffic and railway signalling. Access is limited to authorised personnel and must be implemented through secure, whitelisted mechanisms such as dedicated IP ranges or private circuits.
Operators have been instructed to submit details of whitelisted systems to the UCC and ensure mobile VPN services are disabled. Any provider unable to comply must shut down its entire internet infrastructure for the duration of the suspension. Non-compliance may attract severe sanctions, including fines and potential license suspension.
UCC Executive Director Hon. Nyambi Pembo said the directive, while operationally challenging, is aimed at safeguarding national stability during the sensitive election period.
