Uganda maintains social media ban after election

Following the announcement that longstanding ruler Yoweri Museveni had won the country’s elections, Uganda announced on Sunday that it would continue to prohibit social media while easing a nationwide internet restriction.

Two days prior to the opening of the polls on Thursday, the internet was prohibited. The United Nations called the decision “deeply worrying,” while the administration claimed it was necessary to stop “misinformation.”

There were reports of small-scale protests late on Saturday following the results, with AFP journalists hearing tear gas in portions of the nation’s capital, Kampala, despite the fact that much of the country remained peaceful.

“Social media platforms… remain temporarily restricted to continue safeguarding against misuse that could threaten public order,” stated George Nyombi Thembo, executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). As of Sunday morning, Kampala’s security presence seemed to have significantly decreased, with people out on the streets and stores open.

He justified the days-long shutdown as “necessary and proportionate” while confirming the resumption of the majority of the internet.

The reduction was intended to “prevent the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation,  and malinformation, to curb potential electoral fraud and protect against  incitement to violence during a highly sensitive national period” , according to him.

Thembo told reporters, “I don’t want to put estimate,” when asked when full access would be restored.

“Our agency is reasonable. Our government is rational. We don’t anticipate
thing to go beyond a fair amount of time that will lessen the risk we are witnessing,” he stated.

It follows an election marked by low voter turnout and significant security deployments as the government attempted to avert demonstrations such to those witnessed during elections in neighboring Tanzania in October of last year.

Since Museveni has complete control over the government and security apparatus, analysts have long seen the Ugandan election as a formality.