KAMPALA, UGANDA – Major telecom companies along with the communications regulator in Uganda have been dragged to court for imposing a nationwide internet blackout during the 2026 presidential and Parliamentary elections in Uganda.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The petition was formally filed at the High Court of Uganda in Kampala by two advocates, Michael Aboneka and Raymond Amumpaire, seeking to hold the state accountable for the sweeping internet blackout.
The lawsuit names the UCC and telecom giants MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda, among others, holding them accountable for complying with the directive that resulted in the blackout.
The advocates argue that the disruption was enacted without legal justification or transparency, severing millions of Ugandans from essential services and information at a crucial democratic moment.
The blackout paralyzed online businesses, disrupted mobile money transactions, and cut off students from e-learning platforms, exacerbating hardship during an already tense period.
Michael Aboneka, an advocate in the Courts of Judicature, argued that the UCC-directed blackout violated fundamental rights, including freedoms of expression, access to information, education, and trade.
He further contended that the shutdown unlawfully infringed on the rights to life, livelihood, political participation, and civic engagement, crippling democracy at a critical moment.
“In directing this blackout, the UCC and telecom providers did not merely silence the internet; they violated a spectrum of constitutionally guaranteed rights. From freedom of expression and access to information to the rights to education, trade, and political participation, this act crippled civic life. Students were locked out of their studies, online businesses were paralyzed, and the very livelihood of millions was unlawfully disrupted,” argued advocate Michael.
Advocate Raymond Amumpaire warned that an internet shutdown acts as a blanket gag on speech, information, and the economy, undermining democracy under the false guise of security.
“In the digital age, an internet shutdown is akin to a blanket gag on free speech, access to information, and economic activity which ultimately undermines our democracy under the guise of security,” emphasized advocate Raymond.
The petitioners are further seeking a permanent injunction against future arbitrary internet disruptions, alongside compensation for those adversely affected.
Civil society organizations and digital rights activists have rallied behind the suit, calling it a critical step toward safeguarding digital freedoms and ensuring accountability.
The High Court is expected to set a hearing date soon, in what observers describe as a pivotal test for Uganda’s commitment to constitutional rights in the digital era.
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