Lawyer Godwin Toko. Photo/Courtesy
Ahead of Thursday’s general elections, Uganda is once again under a government-imposed internet shutdown, a move aimed at controlling the flow of information.
Lawyer Godwin Toko, commenting on X, noted the limited success of such measures in the digital age.
“When the Kaguta Museveni regime banned social media in 2011, many people were locked off social media. The same trick didn’t work effectively in 2016 since many people had learnt about VPNs then,” Toko wrote.
He expressed surprise at the resilience of Ugandans in circumventing the latest blockade.
“Today I am surprised by the number of Ugandans who have beaten a TOTAL internet shutdown to stay online. By Friday, tens if not hundreds, of thousands of Ugandans will be online having found a way to obviate the internet blockade,” he added.
This development underscores the growing role of technology and digital literacy in challenging state-imposed restrictions.
Observers note that VPNs and other circumvention tools are increasingly being used to bypass government controls, allowing citizens to continue accessing social media platforms, news updates, and election-related information despite official shutdowns.
The internet blackout in Uganda comes at a critical time, as citizens prepare to cast their votes amid heightened political tension.
As the country approaches the election day, the situation highlights the tension between government attempts to control information and the determination of citizens to remain connected in a rapidly digitizing society.