Uganda is heading to its general election amidst significant restrictions on media and digital communications, with authorities ordering the suspension of KTN on the DStv platform and imposing a nationwide internet shutdown. These measures were enacted just hours before citizens are scheduled to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

MultiChoice, the operator of the DStv platform, confirmed receiving a directive from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to block KTN services in Uganda. The regulator cited concerns over “content being disseminated on KTN accessed through the DStv platform that may impact public order and national security.” Investigations into the matter are reportedly ongoing, with MultiChoice suspending the channel pending further communication from the UCC. This comes as The Standard, Standard Digital, and KTN have a history of reporting on general elections in neighboring countries, including recent polls marked by violence and chaos in Tanzania.

In a broader move, Ugandan authorities also ordered a nationwide shutdown of public internet access and selected mobile services. The UCC directed all licensed mobile network operators and internet service providers to suspend public internet access, halt the sale and registration of new SIM cards, and block outbound data roaming to One Network Area countries. This comprehensive suspension took effect on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6 p.m. and is slated to remain in force until a restoration notice is issued by the commission. The government stated its intention to curb online misinformation and maintain security during the election period.

The Paradigm Initiative (PIN) has strongly condemned these actions, asserting that the internet shutdown and restrictions on media coverage of protests and demonstrations constitute serious violations of digital rights, media freedom, and democratic principles at a critical juncture in Uganda’s electoral process. PIN presented evidence of widespread disruption to internet access across Uganda, affecting social media platforms, messaging services, and online news websites.

PIN highlighted that this shutdown occurred despite earlier public assurances from the Uganda Communications Commission that the government had no plans to shut down the internet during the elections. The organization characterized the shutdown as a “troubling reversal of that commitment,” raising serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights. PIN further noted Uganda’s history of internet shutdowns during elections, referencing similar incidents in 2016 and 2021, the latter of which saw a near-total internet blackout lasting several days. These past shutdowns severely impacted freedom of expression, access to information, election observation, media reporting, and economic activities, demonstrating what PIN termed a “continued pattern of using digital restrictions as a tool of election management.”

Beyond internet access, Paradigm Initiative also condemned directives preventing media houses from covering protests or demonstrations during this period. The group argued that such restrictions directly violate media freedom and the public’s right to information, thereby weakening the essential role of the media as a watchdog in a democratic society. PIN warned that blocking coverage of protests could inadvertently spread misinformation, escalate tensions, and erode public trust in the electoral process.

In its critique, PIN referenced Article 29 of Uganda’s Constitution, which explicitly guarantees freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and access to information. It also underscored that Uganda is a signatory to crucial international agreements, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which protect these fundamental rights. PIN emphasized that any restriction on these rights must adhere to strict criteria: it must be lawful, necessary, proportionate, and serve a legitimate purpose. The organization asserted that blanket internet shutdowns and platform restrictions fail to meet these international and constitutional standards.

At the global level, PIN cited the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, who has consistently deemed internet shutdowns disproportionate and unjustifiable, even during elections or periods of political tension. Similarly, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has recently urged the Government of Uganda to maintain internet access and uphold freedom of expression and media freedom during the current electoral period, aligning with existing African human rights standards that discourage government interference with digital access.

Paradigm Initiative also stressed the responsibility of Internet Service Providers and technology companies operating in Uganda to respect human rights. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, these entities are expected to be transparent and avoid complicity in unlawful or excessive restrictions on internet access. Consequently, PIN called for the immediate restoration of full internet access across Uganda and an end to all forms of digital disruption during and after the elections. The organization further demanded the withdrawal of all directives that restrict media coverage of protests, demonstrations, or political events and urged Internet Service Providers to enhance accountability by publishing transparency reports detailing government orders affecting internet access.