Uganda entered its presidential election period under a nationwide internet shutdown, a move announced by authorities just hours before polling stations were set to open. The government and electoral commission said the suspension was intended to curb misinformation, disinformation, and electoral fraud.
The shutdown comes as President Yoweri Museveni, 81, seeks to extend his rule, which has already spanned nearly four decades. He faces several challengers, most notably opposition figure Bobi Wine, the pop star turned politician contesting the presidency for a second time.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has positioned himself as a representative of Uganda’s younger generation, appealing to voters frustrated by long-standing political control, restrictions on freedom of expression, and limited political space. His campaign has drawn strong support among young Ugandans, who make up the majority of the country’s population.
Museveni, however, retains institutional backing built over years in power, including strong control of state structures and security forces. Some voters continue to credit him for economic stability and reforms, even as critics point to entrenched governance, constrained opposition activity, and repeated election-related restrictions.
The internet shutdown follows a familiar pattern in Ugandan elections, where authorities have previously imposed communication blackouts during politically sensitive periods. Civil society groups and opposition figures argue such measures restrict transparency and undermine confidence in the electoral process, while the government maintains they are necessary for national security and order.
As Ugandans prepare to cast their ballots, the election highlights a deeper question facing the country: whether political leadership can transition peacefully in a nation where one president has defined governance for most of its post independence history.
Africa’s youngest populations continue to press against some of the continent’s oldest political systems. Uganda’s vote is not just about power today, but about whether political space can expand to reflect a generation that did not build the state but will inherit it. The future remains open, and history shows that change on the continent often begins long before it is officially recognized.
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