Uganda communications regulator denies notice on internet, mobile money shutdown ahead of 2026 elections
IN SHORT: A notice circulating on Facebook claims that the Uganda Communications Commission plans to shut down the internet and mobile money services before and during the country's 2026 elections. But the commission has disowned the document as fake.
A public notice apparently issued by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is circulating on Facebook.
The notice says the commission plans to introduce communication measures before, during and after Uganda's 2026 general elections, citing the need to secure the electoral process.
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The document references provisions of the Uganda Communications Act, citing sections that empower the regulator to supervise communication services and regulate content during sensitive national events, such as elections.
The notice warns the public to withdraw cash in advance, claiming banking services will be unavailable during the election period. According to the notice, mobile money services would be shut down nationwide from 8 January 2026, while internet services would be suspended for a week before the polls and remain unavailable throughout voting.
The notice also urges citizens to participate peacefully in the electoral process and to remain patient while results are tallied.
Uganda is scheduled to hold elections on 15 January, when voters will elect the president, members of parliament, local leaders and representatives of special-interest groups, with some polls conducted in the days that follow.
Restrictions on communication services during elections are not new in Uganda. The country has seen heightened security measures and close monitoring of government actions during previous polls.
During the 2021 elections, authorities restricted internet access and social media, citing security and public order concerns. However, officials have publicly denied plans for a blanket internet shutdown ahead of the 2026 general elections.
This document has been posted here and here. (Note: See more instances at the end of this report.)
But is it legitimate? We checked.
Fake document
The document is circulating only on social media accounts and pages unaffiliated with the UCC. There is no corresponding publication on the commission's official website, Facebook and X platforms, press briefings or mainstream media announcements, channels through which a notice of this significance would typically be communicated.
The claims in the notice also conflict with recent public statements by government officials, who have denied plans to impose a blanket internet shutdown during the 2026 elections and described similar online claims as misinformation.
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UCC dismissed the notice as "fake news" in a statement posted on its X account.
"The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) alerts the public that a circulating notice is fake and not issued by the Commission. UCC only distributes official updates via verified channels. The public should ignore the fake notice and consult only official UCC channels for accurate updates," the regulator said.
This notice has also been posted here, here, here, here, here and here.
