Shetechtive Uganda blog

From January 13 to January 26, 2026 , Uganda experienced a government-ordered restriction on internet services surrounding its general election. Initially imposed two days before voting, the shutdown affected nearly all public internet access including social media, messaging apps, web browsing, and critical online tools. The shutdown was gradually lifted over the following days, with some platforms still limited as of January 26 despite restoration of Internet services. ( Anadolu Ajansı ) During this period, the internet was not just an optional convenience; it was a core part of Uganda’s economic infrastructure. Millions of Ugandans rely on mobile money for daily transactions, from paying for transport to buying food and receiving wages, and on the internet for business communication, logistics, e-commerce, and service delivery. When connectivity was suspended, these digital lifelines were abruptly broken. ( Human Rights Watch ) Economic Costs: Who Paid and How Much The financ...

In any democratic society, the media plays a central role in documenting events, informing the public, and supporting access to justice. When credible media institutions fail to report on human rights violations, especially during elections, this omission is not neutral. It actively weakens accountability, distorts public memory, and limits victims’ pathways to justice. In contexts like Uganda’s recent elections, media silence has become a structural barrier to human rights protection. Research on media freedom under authoritarian and semi-authoritarian governments shows a clear pattern. States rarely rely only on outright censorship. Instead, they use regulatory pressure, licensing threats, advertising control, intimidation of journalists, and selective access to information to direct narratives. The result is not always loud propaganda, but quiet omission. Violations happen, but they are not recorded by institutions that are considered credible, authoritative, or admissible in lega...

  In the early evening of January 13, 2026 , as millions of Ugandans were preparing to finalize their thoughts and engage in one of the most consequential elections in recent history, the government quietly flipped a switch that plunged our digital world into silence. At 6:00 pm , the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordered a nationwide internet shutdown , cutting off public access to the web and silencing the online voices of citizens across the country . This was just two days before the January 15 general election . ( TheStar ).  This was not a technical glitch. This was an intentional blackout.  See the exact shutdown directives at the end of the blog.  A Country Cut Off at a Critical Moment The shutdown was not partial or isolated. It blocked mobile and fixed-line services , including social media platforms, messaging apps, and VPN access that many citizens rely on to communicate, stay informed, and share eyewitness accounts. ( TheStar ) For a nat...

Written by Rebecca Nanono Introduction Across today’s digital platforms, algorithms promise personalization, relevance, and convenience. However, beneath this promise lies a growing risk. When algorithms repeatedly serve users more of the same content , they can intensify polarization, amplify harmful ideologies, and accelerate pathways to radicalization. For digital rights advocates, feminists, and social justice actors, this is not just a technical flaw. It is a structural governance problem with deeply gendered and political consequences. How Algorithmic Repetition Works Most social media and content platforms rely on engagement-optimizing algorithms . These systems learn from users’ digital footprint such as clicks, likes, shares, watch time, and comments, then prioritize content that maximizes attention. Over time, this creates the following. Feedback loops , where users are repeatedly exposed to similar views Echo chambers , limiting exposure to altern...