Repression and Intimidation Mars Uganda Election, by Nelson Byaruhanga – 14 April 2026

Micheal Nelson Byaruhanga on Uganda’s costly vote, shutdowns and Museveni’s 50 years rule. From Chartist.

With 24 hours left to the presidential polling day in Uganda, 48-year-old Albert Asiimwe, a local peasant farmer in the western district of Masindi, could not withdraw money from his mobile money account to pay for ambulance services to transport his pregnant wife to the hospital for safe delivery. The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) had directed all licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country to suspend mobile money withdrawals and public internet access ahead of the January 15, 2026, presidential elections.

In a letter dated January 13 2026, and signed by the UCC’s executive director, Mr Nyombi Thembo, the communication regulatory authority alluded their action to the recommendations by the Inter-Agency Security Committee and moved to curb what they regarded as a rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, election fraud and related risks, during the election period.

But for Albert’s wife and their unborn baby, the shutdown proved to be a death sentence. Florence Nyakaisiki bled due to a ruptured uterus and lost her life and baby while being assisted to give birth by a traditional birth attendant in their home village of Alimugonza, Pakanyi Sub-County. However, the painful death of his beloved wife did not stop Albert from going out to vote. It only changed who he would vote for on the ballot paper. According to Albert, his vote was a pursuit of justice for the deceased mother of his beloved four children.

With a grieving heart, the former supporter of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party decided to cast his vote for the opposition leader, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, whose campaign using the slogan ‘protest vote’ promised better health services, quality education, employment and freedom for all Ugandans. Mr Wine came second with 2,741, 238 votes (24.72%) in the January 17, 2026, election result declaration given by the Electoral Commission chairman, Mr Simon Byabakama, in the capital Kampala.

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Nelson Byaruhanga is a Ugandan journalist, writer and filmmaker active in the campaign to stop the Tilenga Oil and Gas Project.

Repression and Intimidation Mars Uganda Election, by Nelson Byaruhanga – 14 April 2026

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