At least 18m registered voters are expected to exercise their franchise in Uganda on Thursday, amid an internet shutdown by the government.
On Wednesday morning, Ugandans woke to see that their internet access had been scuttled after the sitting government ordered the Ugandan Communication Commission to break internet access.
In a national address on Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni said the internet had to be shut down to check foreign influence on the electios.
Shortly after announcing that the internet will be shut down, he said; “Uganda is ours, it is not anybody’s. There is no way anybody can come and play around with our country, to decide who is good, who is bad, this one we will stop.”
MTN Uganda also confirmed the shutdown on Thursday in a statement by the company.
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“I can confirm that MTN Uganda and all Licensed Telecommunication Operators in the country have received a directive from Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to implement a suspension of the operation of all internet Gateways and associated access points,” Nompilo Morafo, MTN’s group executive for corporate affairs said.
The internet shutdown followed the suspension of activities on Facebook Messenger and other messaging apps, in what’s a retaliation to the suspension of accounts linked to the Ugandan government by Facebook.
Uganda has experienced arguably its most violent campaigns since 1996, with 54 people killed in November after the Police clashed with opposition candidate, Bobi Wine’s supporters.
Bobi Wine, on Wednesday revealed that his closest associates, bodyguards and others have been arrested. He also criticised the incumbent on the shutting down of the internet.
In 2016, when Museveni contested against Kizza Besigye, similar moves were made before the election as he was declared winner after amassing more than 60% of total votes.
Bobi Wine, a pop star turned Parliamentarian and Presidential hopeful has energised Uganda’s youthful population, with over 80% of them less than 35. He has warned against electoral fraud and on Wednesday said the electoral commission and Museveni colluded to shut the internet down.
Voting has commenced in several parts of the country, with a low turnout seen as at the time of filing this report.
The Electoral Commission of Uganda has said the results of the election will be tallied and displayed on screen at the District Tally Centre, while the announcement of the winner is expected in 48 hours after the polls.