- Internet restored in Uganda after four days of restrictions during elections
- Access to social media and messaging apps is still limited
- Proton VPN confirms usage has now reached “an all-time high”
Uganda’s internet shutdown has ended after four days, but VPN services are still needed to access social media and messaging apps.
Connectivity was gradually restored on Sunday, although the latest data from internet watchdog NetBlocks shows authorities are still restricting access to several social media platforms.
David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, said usage in the country has hit “an all-time high”.
This follows an 8,000% increase in registrations from Uganda in just one hour on Tuesday, when restrictions were first introduced. Despite the initial spike, all traffic dropped on Wednesday as the country was plunged into a total internet blackout.
UCC warns of VPN failures
Although there is no law preventing the use of VPNs, the precise legal landscape is unclear.
On Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) suggested that he did not take issue with citizens using VPNs to communicate with their loved ones. However, he warned that people who use the technology to break the law could face significant consequences.
Separately, a UCC spokesperson hinted at potential prosecution, noting: “We know you use VPN to access Facebook, but that doesn’t mean you’re immune from legal action.”
Why did Uganda restrict access to the Internet?
The Commission justified the move by claiming that it was necessary to curb the spread of misinformation and electoral fraud, as well as to protect “national security during the election period
However, digital rights experts have told TechRadar that the internet shutdown undermined the democratic process.
ℹ️ Update: With internet connectivity now largely restored in #Uganda following elections held under a widespread internet shutdown, metrics confirm that the exact same social media shutdown and filtering plan and mechanism used during the 2021 elections has been implemented again. pic.twitter.com/cGTkax2ECA18 January 2026
“Deliberately cutting off the country from the rest of the world just days before a highly anticipated election is a deep betrayal and a flagrant disregard for democracy,” Felicia Anthonio, campaign manager at Access Now, told TechRadar.
This is not the first time that Ugandan citizens have faced such restrictions ahead of an important vote.
The government enforced a similar blackout during the 2021 election, with NetBlocks confirming that authorities are using the “exactly same social media shutdown and filtering” as five years ago.
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