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  HomeCollaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)  /  Uganda
20Feb

#KeepItOn: Authorities Must Reverse Social Media Shutdown Order and Restore Access in Gabon

Author CIPESA Posted on

#KeepItOn |

We, the undersigned organizations, and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 345 human rights organizations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns — urgently demand the government of Gabon to immediately reverse orders to shut down social media indefinitely in the country. The order is in gross violation of national and international human rights frameworks and must not be allowed to continue.

In a televised announcement on February 17, 2026, Jean-Claude Mendome — spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication (HAC) — announced the immediate suspension of social networks to prevent the “spread of false information.” The spokesperson claimed the measures were necessary to protect national unity and prevent social conflict. According to the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), as of February 18, 2026, access to major social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube is being blocked in the country.

The directive comes amidst ongoing anti-government protests and a labour strike in Gabon. Restricting access to critical digital platforms in times of uncertainty stifles the freedom of expression and the right to access information. These platforms do not only facilitate social communications, they also serve as platforms for economic empowerment. Additionally, evidence shows that blocking access to vital communication platforms amplifies the spread of misinformation.

The #KeepItOn coalition has documented multiple incidents of shutdowns in Gabon in the past, most recently during the August 2023 elections. As polls closed on August 26, 2023, authorities shut down the internet even as they declared Ali Bongo the winner. Internet access was only restored on August, 30, 2023, following a military coup that annulled the election results and deposed the Bongo administration.

Prior to this, in 2021, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented instances of internet access throttling aimed at suppressing protests against government COVID-related measures. In 2019, Gabonese authorities shut down internet and broadcasting services following an attempted coup. In 2016, the government activated the kill switch in response to protests, clashes, looting, and arrests in the capital, Libreville, following the re-election of former President Ali Bongo. We urge President Nguema’s government not to fall into the same dangerous pattern, uphold human rights and ensure unfettered access for all.

Internet shutdowns contravene national and international legal frameworks. Article 1(2) of the Constitution of Gabon guarantees the right to freedom of expression. International instruments to which Gabon is a signatory, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights similarly make express provision for these rights. While these rights are not absolute, their limitations must be necessary and proportionate, as asserted by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee in General Comment No.34.

Clement N. Voule, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, highlighted in his report the crucial role of digital technologies in expanding opportunities for the enjoyment and exercise of peaceful assembly and association rights and also raised concerns about the use of these technologies by state and non-state actors “to silence, surveil and harass dissidents, political opposition, human rights defenders, activists, and protesters.”

The 2016 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Resolution also recognizes the “importance of the internet in advancing human and people’s rights in Africa,” expressing concern over the “emerging practice of State Parties interrupting or limiting access to telecommunication services such as the internet, social media, and messaging services.” The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa 2019 calls upon States not to “engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.”

Telecommunication companies have a duty to uphold human rights and undertake proactive steps to mitigate rights-violating practices such as internet shutdowns. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide guidelines on how companies can promote human rights due to their unique position between authorities and the end user. The principles make specific recommendations including performing due diligence when entering new markets and implementing transparency measures around government directives.  We call on telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) operating in Gabon — including Moov Gabon, Gabon Telecom, and Airtel Gabon — to refrain from enforcing the shutdown orders received from the authorities and undertake urgent measures to provide the people of Gabon with open, and secure access to the internet and digital communication tools at all times

Access Now and members of the #KeepItOn coalition call on the government of Gabon, ISPs as well as relevant actors, and urge the following:

  • The Gabonese government must immediately revoke the shutdown directive, restore access, and refrain from imposing network disruptions in the future; and
  • We urge Moov Gabon, Gabon Telecom, and Airtel Gabon to stop enforcing shutdown orders, push back against illegal government directives, and uphold their duty to respect people’s rights in Gabon.

Signatories

  • Access Now
  • Activate Rights
  • Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs
  • Afghanistan Democracy and Development Organization (ADDO)
  • African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)
  • Africa Freedom of Information Center (AFIC)
  • Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation (AODIRF)
  • AfricTivistes
  • Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE)
  • Bloggers of Zambia- BloggersZM 
  • Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP)
  • Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • Conexión Segura y Libre (CSL)
  • Digital Access
  • Digicivic Initiative
  • Digital Resilience Development (Tajikistan)
  • Digital Rights Watch (DRW) 
  • EG Justice 
  • Foundation for Internet Rights and Innovation (FIRI)
  • Freedom Forum, Nepal
  • Gambia Press Union (GPU)
  • Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria
  • Initiative for Embracing Humanity in Africa (IEHA)
  • Internet Governance Tanzania Working Group (IGTWG)
  • Internet Without Borders
  • International Press Centre (IPC)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • JCA-NET(Japan)
  • Jonction, Senegal
  • KICTANet
  • Kijiji Yeetu
  • Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan Network
  • LIM NGUEN FOUNDATION [LNF]-SOUTH SUDAN
  • Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
  • Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
  • Office of Civil Freedoms
  • Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)
  • Organization of the Justice Campaign
  • Pakistan Press Foundation 
  • Paradigm Initiative (PIN)
  • Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center
  • Rudi International
  • SMEX
  • Tech & Media Convergency (TMC)
  • Ubunteam
  • West African Digital Rights Defenders Coalition
  • Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
  • YODET
  • Zaina Foundation

17Feb

Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy Conference

Author CIPESA Posted on

Event |

Date and Time: 18 February, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM.

Location: Kampala, Uganda

The Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy Conference, also known as the #BeeraKuGuard Awareness Conference, is being hosted by the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) under the Uganda Digital Acceleration Project (UDAP-GovNet). The event addresses the critical need to promote cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy awareness due to the growing scale and sophistication of cyber threats, which have escalated with the nationwide increase in affordable broadband and e-services. The conference aims to promote cyber hygiene, personal data protection, and privacy best practices across the country.

13Jan

Uganda’s Election and the Lingering Legacy of Internet Blockage

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Juliet Nanfuka |

In two days, as Uganda heads to its presidential and parliamentary elections slated for January 15, 2026, citizens, civil society actors, journalists, and digital rights defenders were stumped with the question, “will they shut down the internet again?” Or, this time, will we see a commitment to adherence to one of the basic fundamentals of digital democracy and have an election in which access to digital communications remains open?  

In recent weeks, anxiety about an impending internet blackout has surged despite Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, and Hon. Nyombi Thembo, Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), dismissing rumours of plans to shut down the internet, calling them “false and misleading”.

However, for many, these pronouncements have done little to quell suspicions, especially due to the actions witnessed during the 2016 and 2021 elections. During those previous two elections, access to digital communications was restricted, resulting in a block to online communication, commerce, and key avenues for civic engagement.

Various actions in the lead up to the polls have also served to compound the suspicions. In a report issued in January 2026, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) describes the arrests of state critics as “arbitrary and discriminatory” and outside of the country’s constitutional guarantees.

“Despite the strong constitutional protection of rights, the human rights situation in Uganda during the period under review has been characterized by increasingly restrictive legislation and their arbitrary and discriminatory application. The Government of Uganda has continued to rely on legislation such as the Public Order Management Act (POMA), the Anti-Terrorism Act, the NGO Act, the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act and the Penal Code Act to shrink civic and democratic space and further weaken political participation, particularly of political opponents and their supporters, as well as the work of civil society, including journalists and human rights defenders.” OHCHR Report on Uganda

Meanwhile, independent media has come under increasing pressure, experiencing various forms of clampdowns in the lead up to the elections, including the denial of advertising spend. In October 2025, independent outlets – NTV Uganda and The Daily Monitor – were denied accreditation to cover parliamentary and presidential proceedings. Reports of harassment, equipment confiscation as well as attacks on journalists during election campaign coverage, and raids on media offices, have been commonplace – underscoring a deteriorating environment for media freedom.

Meanwhile the satellite internet provider Starlink, which has services that can operate independently of terrestrial networks, was halted in Uganda after a regulatory directive in early January 2026, rendering all Starlink terminals inactive ahead of polling day. The satellite internet service provider was providing  services without a valid local license. Critics still argue that the directive serves to limit alternatives for connectivity in the event of broader restrictions on internet access, feeding anxieties about reduced access to independent channels of information.

The UCC has also come under fire following its warning to broadcasters and digital content creators against live coverage of riots, protests, or incidents that could disrupt public order. The regulator stated that only the Electoral Commission may declare election results, and sharing unverified results is illegal. Dr. Zawedde stated, “Media platforms must not be abused to incite violence, spread misinformation, or undermine the credibility of the electoral process.”

By the afternoon of January 13, 2026, a directive circulating online had been issued by UCC to mobile network operators to block public access to the internet, effective at 18:00.

In a public statement, Access Now and the global #KeepItOn coalition had urged President Yoweri Museveni and relevant national authorities to ensure unrestricted internet access throughout the electoral period and to refrain from any disruptive measures that impede the free flow of information. The statement stresses the fundamental role that connectivity plays in inclusive participation, freedom of expression, and the credibility of the electoral process.

Likewise, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) also reaffirmed that internet access is a core human right and a necessary condition for free and fair elections, warning against restrictions that would stifle civic space. The Commission called on the Government of Uganda to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, signed on January 27, 2013, which emphasises the importance of a culture of peaceful change of power based on regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial electoral bodies.

For democracy to flourish in Uganda, authorities must demonstrate their commitment to open digital spaces. This means not only publicly guaranteeing uninterrupted internet access before, during, and after the elections but also building trust through transparency and accountability.  Citizens deserve to communicate freely, monitor the electoral process, and hold all actors accountable without fear of arbitrary disruption.

Ultimately, Uganda’s electoral credibility will not be judged by what happens at polling stations, but by whether the state resists the temptation to control information by disrupting digital access. In an era where civic participation, journalism, election transparency, and even livelihoods heavily rely on digital access, a disruption would signal a fear of accountability.

If the government chooses restraint in the coming hours, it would mark a major departure from a troubling past and offer Ugandans a rare assurance in the election process. If it does not, history will record yet another election where the digital access was shut down to presumably manage dissent rather than protect democracy.

18Nov

Uganda Data Governance Capacity Building Workshop

Author CIPESA Posted on

Event |

The AU-NEPAD and GIZ in collaboration with CIPESA are pleased to convene this three-day capacity-building and stakeholder engagement workshop to support the Government of Uganda in its data governance journey.

The three-day workshop will focus on providing insights into data governance and the transformative potential of data to drive equitable socio-economic development, empower citizens, safeguard collective interests, and protect digital rights in Uganda. This will include aspects on foundational infrastructure, data value creation and markets, legitimate and trustworthy data systems, data standards and categorisation, and data governance mechanisms.

Participants will critically evaluate regulatory approaches, institutional frameworks, and capacity-building strategies necessary to harnessing the power of data for socio-economic transformation and regional integration, in line with the African Union Data Policy Framework.

The workshop will take place from November 19th to 21st, 2025.

14Nov

Advancing African-Centred AI is a Priority for Development in Africa

Author CIPESA Posted on

By Patricia Ainembabazi |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) participated in the annual DataFest Africa event held on 30-31 October, 2025. Hosted by Pollicy, the event serves to celebrate data use in Africa by bringing together various stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, such as government, civil society, donors, academics, students, and private industry experts, under one roof and theme.  The event provided a timely platform to advance discussions on how Africa can harness AI and data-driven systems in ways that centre human rights, accountability, and social impact.

CIPESA featured in various sessions at the event, one of which was the launch of the ‘Made in Africa AI for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)’ Landscape Study by the MERL Tech Initiative. At the session, CIPESA provided reflections on the role of AI in development across several humanitarian sectors in Africa.

CIPESA’s contributions complemented insights from the study that explored African approaches to AI in data-driven evidence systems and which emphasised responsive and inclusive design, contextual relevance, and ethical deployment. The Study resonated with insights from the CIPESA 2025 State of Internet Freedom in Africa report, which highlights the role of AI as  Africa navigates digital democracy.

According to the CIPESA report, AI technologies hold significant potential to improve civic engagement, extend access to public services, scale multilingual communication tools, and support fact-checking and content moderation. On the flip side, the MERL study also underscores the risks posed by AI systems that lack robust governance frameworks, including increased surveillance capacity, algorithmic bias, the spread of misinformation, and deepening digital exclusion. The aforementioned risks and challenges pose major concerns regarding readiness, accountability, and institutional capacity, given the nascent and fragmented legal and regulatory landscape for AI in the majority of African countries..

Sam Kuuku, Head of the GIZ-African Union AI Made in Africa Project, noted that it is important for countries and stakeholders to reflect on how well Africa can measure the impact of AI and evaluate the role and potential of AI use in improving livelihoods across the continent. He further reiterated the value of various European Union (EU) frameworks in providing useful guidance for African countries seeking to develop AI policies that promote both innovation and safety, to ensure that technological developments align with public interest, legal safeguards, and global standards.

The session was underscored by the need for African governments and stakeholders to benchmark global regulatory practices that are grounded in human rights principles for progressive adoption and deployment of AI.  CIPESA pointed out the EU AI Act of 2024, which offers a structured and risk-based model that categorises AI systems according to the level of potential harm and establishes controls for transparency, safety, and non-discrimination.

Key considerations for labour rights, economic justice, and the future of work were highlighted, particularly in relation to the growing role of African data annotators and platform workers within global AI supply chains. Investigations into outsourced data labelling, such as the case of Kenyan workers contracted by tech platforms to train AI models under precarious economic conditions, underlie the need for stronger labour protections and ethical AI sourcing practices. Through platforms such as DataFest Africa, there is a growing community dedicated towards shaping a forward-looking narrative in which AI is not only applied to solve African problems but is also developed, regulated, and critiqued by African actors. The pathway to an inclusive and rights-respecting digital future will rely on working collectively to embed accountability, transparency, and local expertise within emerging AI and data governance frameworks.

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