Internet access in Uganda has been apparently restored after it was blocked before the country underwent a general election last week on Thursday.
This ends the 5 days of anguish for Ugandans that would have loved to connect to the Internet during this time.
As of 12 hours ago, according to NetBlocks, Ugandans had experienced 100 hours of internet blackout and real time network data showed that connectivity was only 13% of ordinary levels.
Last week, the Uganda Communications Commission issued an order where they ordered telecommunications companies to immediately suspend any access and use of social media and online messaging platforms.. Internet access in Uganda has been disrupted before. They pulled the same move where we saw widespread reports of social media being shutdown during 2016’s general elections. It is also a week after Facebook shut down accounts of top Ugandan officials ahead of election which was met with criticism by the affected individuals.
Internet disruptions are rife around the world in an age where the Internet’s importance is greater than ever. In 2016, the United Nation Human Rights Council passed resolutions where they condemned measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to the Internet and termed it as a human right.
