Days ahead of Uganda’s January 15 general elections, government officials publicly denied plans to restrict internet access. In early January, authorities told local media there would be no internet shutdown during the vote(nowe okno).
On Tuesday, just days before polls opened, Uganda ordered a nationwide suspension of public internet access, citing the need to curb “misinformation” and “electoral fraud(nowe okno).”
For people on the ground, this wasn’t a shock.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Proton VPN saw two major signup surges from Uganda, each exceeding 250%, as people anticipated a blackout. When the shutdown actually began, Proton VPN signups from Uganda spiked by more than 8,000%(nowe okno), as people tried to reconnect to the outside world. The spike happened in the span of one hour.
Independent internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed(nowe okno) a nation-scale disruption, matching official notices from the Uganda Communications Commission ordering restrictions to “mitigate the rapid spread of misinformation.”
Although authorities indicated a broad shutdown of internet services, monitoring data shows that some connections remain active. The initial drop was immediate, followed by a gradual decline, which may indicate a phased implementation across networks.
This pattern is becoming increasingly familiar.
Around the world, election periods now often coincide with internet shutdowns(nowe okno), throttling, or platform bans. Governments often frame these actions as ‘temporary safeguards’. In reality, they cut off journalists, civil society groups, opposition voices, and everyday people at the moment access to information matters most.
Uganda’s shutdown highlights a broader shift: people no longer take official reassurances at face value. They plan for digital blackouts the same way some might prepare for storms. The data shows Ugandans expected to be disconnected and acted ahead of time.
At Proton, we believe secure internet access is a cornerstone of democratic societies. When governments shut down connectivity during elections, protecting access to information becomes a necessity.
