Uganda eases Internet shutdown imposed over election
KAMPALA: Internet was partially restored in Uganda yesterday almost five days after a near-total blackout was imposed across the East African country ahead of elections the opposition says were rigged. The gradual easing of Internet curbs came as police announced dozens of arrests for alleged election-related violence, and surrounded the headquarters of the main opposition party whose leader is effectively under house arrest.
President Yoweri Museveni extended his 35 years in power in January 14’s election, securing a sixth term with 58.6 percent of the vote. His main rival, musicianturned-lawmaker Bobi Wine, came a distant second with 34.8 percent. Wine has rejected the results, and decried the election as a sham.
A government spokesman said an unprecedented Internet shutdown imposed on January 13 for alleged
national security reasons had been lifted.
“The Internet has been restored. Other platforms are still under review,” spokesman Ofwono Opondo told AFP. “We shall go full throttle depending on what happens in the initial phase of opening connectivity... We advise Internet users, especially those from the opposition, not to use it to promote hate messages, threats” and intimidation.
‘Planned in advance’
Social media access remained patchy in the capital Kampala, where millions of Internet users have been unable to send emails, search the web, or use Facebook, WhatsApp and other communication platforms for the better part of a week. NetBlocks, a nongovernmental organisation that tracks Internet shutdowns, said network data showed a rise in connectivity in Uganda to 37 percent after all but core infrastructure, regulatory and government networks were switched off.
“This suggests that Uganda’s election shutdown, or at least the procedure under which it was implemented, was planned some time in advance. This has been one of the more orderly nation-scale network blackouts we’ve tracked,” NetBlocks told AFP. The headquarters of Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) in
Kampala was under police guard Monday in what the opposition leader called a “raid” by security forces. “Museveni, after committing the most vile election fraud in history, has resorted to the most despicable forms of intimidation,” Wine tweeted.
His lawyer, Benjamin Katana, said he tried to visit his client yesterday but was denied permission. Wine last left his home to vote on Thursday, and his residence
is surrounded by police and soldiers. Uganda police spokesman Fred Enanga said yesterday that 55 people had been arrested over the election period for “violent acts” including blocking highways and damaging property. “Though the polls were peaceful and a success, there were criminal elements that wanted to cause violence,” he said, adding the accused would face court.—AFP