As Ugandans prepare to go to the polls on January 15, IPI calls on the Ugandan authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists covering the election and immediately reverse the directive ordering an internet shutdown.
IPI is deeply concerned by the prevailing attacks on journalists and the undermining of fundamental rights like free expression and access to information in the build-up to the election. In October 2025, the Ugandan parliament barred journalists from the Nation Media Group from covering parliamentary proceedings. In November, Ssematimba Bwejiire, a senior journalist working with Radio Simba, was also assaulted and allegedly electrocuted by joint security personnel of the Uganda Police Force (UPF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) while he was covering the campaign trail of opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Pressure has continued into the new year. On January 5, 2026, security forces also assaulted BBS TV journalist Ivan Mbadi while he was covering the campaign of presidential candidate Bobi Wine.
In addition to attacks against journalists, the Ugandan government has also suspended several non-governmental organisations, including the Human Rights Network of Journalists Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), citing investigations into alleged activities prejudicial to national security. The move is widely seen as an attempt to undermine election monitoring efforts.
On January 13, the Uganda Communications Commission issued a directive ordering an internet shutdown until further notice. The Commission claimed that the move was necessary to combat disinformation and prevent violence. However, the Ugandan authorities have a long track record of disrupting internet access to control the digital communication space, and the Commission’s restrictions will severely limit access to election-related information. IPI this week signed a joint statement calling on the Ugandan authorities to ensure unrestricted access to the internet during the elections.
‘Free, independent, and safe journalism is essential to credible elections. Any attempt to silence the media, whether through intimidation, violence, censorship, or internet shutdowns, undermines the integrity of the election and the public’s right to know,” said Nompilo Simanje, IPI’s Africa Advocacy and Engagement Lead.
“Shutting down the internet, suspending the operations of human rights organisations and silencing journalists does not protect national security, it erodes public trust and strips citizens of their right to participate meaningfully in their own democracy. We call on the authorities to restore internet access, protect journalists, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to democratic principles,” she added.
IPI’s concerns echo those already raised by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), both of which have warned about the deteriorating human rights environment in Uganda ahead of the elections. Internet shutdowns, harassment of journalists, and restrictions on media operations are inconsistent with Uganda’s constitutional obligations and its regional and international human rights commitments.
IPI will continue to monitor developments closely and stands in solidarity with Ugandan journalists, media workers, and citizens demanding transparency, accountability, and respect for fundamental freedoms during this critical moment.