Internet in Uganda is now finally accessible, and the shutdown has ended. The shutdown that had entered its fifth day was suspended just today before midday.

Social media access will however remain blocked. And one can only acquire such services if aided with Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

The internet was abruptly shut down on Wednesday night January 13^th with just hours to go to polling stations for last Thursday’s general elections.

That was shortly after Facebook had apparently suspended hundreds of pro-government Ugandan accounts.

President Yoweri Museveni, while commenting about Facebook’s drastic decision, said there was no way anyone would come to Uganda and decide what was good or bad for Ugandans.

Until yesterday, the Prime Minister of Uganda Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda could not commit to a date when the internet shutdown would finally be lifted. The only thing he was certain of was that the government was reviewing the security situation before restoring the internet.

Government offered no prior notice on the intended shutdown and it remained uncertain when the shutdown would be lifted, until at around midday.

Before the country was hit with a complete internet shutdown, there was an earlier attempt by government to block Google Play Store and Apple’s App store, and a ban on all social media platforms.

According to government, the rationale for a complete internet shutdown was to deter spread of misinformation and anticipated internal and external influences on Uganda’s electoral process, which is reasonably understandable.

Ugandans are however bitter with the government’s mode of execution. Citizens demand a clear explanation about the manner in which the internet shutdown was effected; they feel it leaves much to be desired on the question of accountability of government to the Ugandan people and the validity of government’s rationale for this shutdown.

‘Netizen’ Ugandans are bothered that if at all a complete internet shutdown was necessary and whether or not it was effected in a proper manner, the most important issue is that who will be held accountable for the adverse impact of this shutdown? People are counting losses!

Leading telecommunication Networks MTN Uganda and Airtel on their part justifiably stated that they suspended access to social media platforms for their customers in Uganda as a response to a directive issued by the government through the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

The internet shutdown has clearly affected businesses, professionals and people in employment in their day today work.

Ugandans are now angry that the government should not assume the good will of the people of Uganda without any sense of accountability economically, more so given the current state that the country is just recovering from the COVID-19 hard blow that left many businesses without life.

It should be noted that the government is already getting a backlash from within, after the Ministry of Health blaming the internet shut down for frustrating its efforts to update Ugandans about the number of infections, recoveries and deaths as a result of COVID-19.

Officials  from the Ministry contend that they last issued updates about COVID-19 on January 13^th  before the internet was shut down and ever since then Ugandans have been kept in the darkness about the efforts to fight the pandemic, which is likely to bring about disastrous  repercussions.

By Baron Kironde

By Our Reporter

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, the leader of National Unity Platform (NUP), has declared that he will go to court to challenge president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s victory in the January 14^th presidential election.

Speaking to the press on phone Bobi Wine, who has been under house arrest since Friday January 15^th, 2021, said that he is ready to drag the Electoral Commission (EC) and Museveni to court  challenging the latter’s victory.

According to election results announced by the E.C chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama on Saturday January 16, 2021,  president elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, of the National Resistance Movement  scored 5,300,831 votes (58%)  whereas his nemesis Bobi Wine polled ,119,965 votes (34.62%).

They contested together with other candidates that include Alliance for National Transform (NUP)’s Mugisha Muntu Gregory, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Patrick Amuriat Oboi,  Democratic Party’s Norbert Mao, plus independents who included Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde, Nancy Kalembe, John Katumba, Willy Mayambala, Joseph Kabuleta and Fred Mwesigye.

However, Bobi Wine insists that these are sham results, because they differ greatly from those compiled by NUP polling agents across the  country which indicate that he won president Yoweri Museveni by far.

“I therefore take this painful but nonetheless inevitable leadership decision of urging you to desist from any form of violence as we prepare to challenge the election outcome & its glaring imperfections through the courts of law for the sake of our longterm victory & for Uganda.

“We are going to audit because on account of the removal of the internet there was no immediate transmission of the voting patterns from polling stations,” Bobi Wine’s deputy Mathias Mpuuga said on Sunday during a press briefing at the NUP headquarters in Kamwokya, Kampala.

In support of Bobi Wine’s position, his fellow presidential contender Rtd. Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu has since joined him in rejecting the election results and vowed to combine forces in challenging Museveni’s victory in court.

“It’s time to turn the page and engage in the next stage of the struggle. We will not live like serfs in our own country,” Mugisha Muntu said on Twitter shortly after the announcement was made.

“These results are completely fabricated,” he added.

Prior to the election last week  the government ordered telecommunication companies to shut down the internet on the eve of the polls, and the blackout remained in place till Monday when internet was switched back on.

In Kampala, shortly before the results were announced, security forces poured onto the streets of the capital in large numbers, while others raided and sealed off Bobi Wine’s home to  block anyone from leaving or accessing the residence.

U.S Condemns Army, Police Brutality

Meanwhile, the United States of America has condemned the police and army brutality  meted out unto Bobi Wine and his supporters, saying it is “deeply troubled” by events in Uganda, noting that voters cast their ballots in an environment of “intimidation and fear”.

“We are deeply troubled by the many credible reports of security force violence during the pre-election period and election irregularities during the polls,” Morgan Ortagus, the State Department’s spokesperson, said in a statement late on Saturday.

“We strongly urge independent, credible, impartial, and thorough investigations into these reports and that those responsible be held accountable.

“We condemn the continuing attacks on political candidates and urge the government to respect their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression,” Ortagus added.

It should be noted too that both the U.S. and Britain expressed concern over the validity of the election results, noting the internet blackout throughout Uganda since before the Election Day.

President Yoweri Museveni’s chief mobilizer, also prominent events promoter cum city businessman Balaam Barugahara has revealed that controversial city pastor Franklin Mondo Mugisha’s case in which he, together with others at large, allegedly fleeced over Shs5Bn from unsuspecting Ugandans will proceed even if he meets the president.

Exclusively speaking to the Grapevine on Wednesday January 13^th, 2021, Balaam insisted that the recent meeting between Museveni, Makerere Kikoni based House of Prayer Ministries International pastor Aloysius Bugingo, Nansana’s World Ministries church pastor Wilson Bugembe, Evangelical Truth Ministries (ETM)’s Brother Ronnie Makabai and others a few days ago was not about discussing Mondo’s case, because he has to pay for his sins should he be found guilty.

“The meeting was not about Court cases. If you commit your cases, face the law but don’t drag the President into your court matters. It should be the Court to determine Pastor Mondo’s fate,” Balaam, who was replying to questions about Mondo’s fate and word that he want to reach out to president Msueveni to intervene in his case, said.

Mondo is facing a five billion fraud case in the Anti-Corruption together with singer Maggie Kayima, pastor Siraje Ssemanda of Bombo Revival Church and singer Catherine Kusasira.

Prosecution alleges that the said suspects together with others at large fraudulently obtained the said money from fellow religious leaders  and unsuspecting Ugandans after they purported to be operating on behalf  of President Museveni, First Lady Janet  Kataha Museveni and Gen. Salim Saleh, whose names they used to hoodwink their victims that they would secure them government contracts and jobs, until they were busted by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.

Balaam added that he accepted to mobilize support for President Museveni so that he could win tomorrow’s presidential elections and urged all Christians to mobilize for his support in their respective churches.

He insisted that it’s not illegal for religious leaders to mobilize support for Museveni because he has seen a lot of Catholic priests, especially those from Masaka district, mobilizing support for National Unity platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and nothing has been done to them.

He however refuted claims that pastors were given bags of money to facilitate their mobilization efforts for president Museveni.

“All those men are very rich, they are driving very powerful vehicles, for how much can they be bought,” Balaam asked.

By Arilabaki Sengooba