“Uganda Communications Commission hereby directs you to immediately suspend any access and use, direct or otherwise, of all social media platforms and online messaging applications over your network until further notice,” the letter read.
Last week, the commission issued an order where they ordered telecommunications companies to immediately suspend any access and use of social media and online messaging platforms.
In a television address last week, Yoweri Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders who was running against his strongest opposition challenger Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine defended the social media shutdown as a response to Facebook’s closure of accounts of the ruling NRM “message senders”.
THE STANDARD
Ugandan musician turned politician, Robert Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine addresses a news conference at his home in Kasangati, Kampala, Uganda July 24, 2019. [James Akena, Reuters]
Ugandan politician Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine says that it’s been four days since their military surrounded the home placing his family under house arrest.
The singer-turned-politician, who has since rejected the results announced by Ugandan Electoral Commission on Saturday, claims his party officials had also been restricted from visiting him.
Wine, 38, of National Unity Platform, was among the 10 candidates challenging President Yoweri Museveni in the Thursday s presidential election in which Museveni was declared a winner with 58.6 per cent of the votes while wine scooped 34.8 per cent.
THE STANDARD By
Judah Ben-Hur |
January 17th 2021 at 12:05:37 GMT +0300
Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and President Uhuru Kenyatta. [File, Standard]
State House has deleted a tweet and Facebook post congratulating Uganda President Yoweri Museveni on his re-election.
The Ugandan Electoral Commission on Saturday declared Yoweri Museveni the winner of the elections with 58.6 per cent of the votes while his rival Bobi wine scooped 34.8 per cent.
The tweet from State House acknowledging Museveni’s win, received a lot of backlash with one user (That DIY Babe) calling it “a very bad sign for 2022”. It was pulled down shortly after being posted.
Opinion: Election defeat should galvanize Uganda s opposition
A vote marred by state violence and an internet shutdown saw incumbent Yoweri Museveni declared winner. It s frustrating for a young population yearning for change, but not all hope is lost, DW s Iddi Ssessanga writes.
Election placards showing incumbent Museveni, his main challenger Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine
On campaign trips across the country, opposition candidates and their supporters stared defiantly down the barrels of guns. Hordes of soldiers and armed police officers followed them at every turn and broke up rallies.
Despite the risk to their lives, Ugandans determined to usher in a new people-centered government and put to rest almost four decades of Museveni s rule turned out in droves.