Uganda’s communications regulator has ordered internet service providers to shut down social media and messaging services, just two days before a tense presidential election pitting President Yoweri Museveni against opposition frontrunner Bobi Wine, a popular singer.
In a letter, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director, Irene Sewankambo ordered telecommunications companies to “immediately suspend any access and use” of social media and online messaging platforms.
The list of banned social media sites include Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Signal and Viber. Before the letter was issued, users were already complaining that they are unable to access Facebook and WhatsApp, social media platforms being widely used for campaigning by all sides ahead of the January 14 election in the East African country.
It is widely assumed the order is retaliation for Facebook’s removal of pro-government accounts seeking to manipulate public debate before Thursday’s polls.
Campaigning ahead of the election has been marred by brutal crackdowns on opposition rallies, which the authorities say break COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings. Rights groups however claim the restrictions are a pretext for supressing the opposition.
Bobi Wine, the main challenger of longtime President Yoweri Museveni, had earlier reported that the security personnel raided his home and beat two security guards.
The popular singer turned politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, said the raid of his compound in Kampala and the arrest of his guards happened while he was doing an interview with Kenya’s Hot 96 FM radio station.
“I have to end the interview because I can see soldiers beating my security guards,” he said.
Patrick Onyango, police spokesman for the capital Kampala, denied Bobi Wine’s home had been raided or that anyone was arrested, saying, “We were just rearranging our security posture in the area near his home, specifically removing some checkpoints.”
At 38, Wine is half the age of President Yoweri Museveni and has attracted a large following among young people in a nation where 80% of the population are under 30.
He is considered the frontrunner among 10 candidates challenging the incumbent, the former guerrilla leader who seized power in 1986 and brought stability to the country after the murderous reigns of dictators, Milton Obote and Idi Amin.
While security forces have cracked down on the opposition during previous elections, the run-up to this year’s vote has been especially violent. In November, 54 people were killed as soldiers and police quelled protests after Bobi Wine was imprisoned.
“The terror, frankly, is unprecedented,” said Kizza Besigye, a veteran opposition leader who challenged President Yoweri Museveni in four elections.
“Violence, terror seem to be scaled up with every coming election. This election has witnessed untold violence. It gets worse and worse by the day.”
Bobi Wine and other leading opposition candidates said they had launched a concerted effort to protect against vote rigging at polling stations.
They are urging their supporters to stay within 100 metres of polling stations rather than return home as the electoral commission is demanding. Experts believe this could incur potential confrontations with security forces.
