Uganda cuts internet days before presidential election

"The blackout comes as President Yoweri Museveni, criticised for cracking down on opponents, vies for his seventh term. Ugandan authorities have imposed a nationwide internet blackout days before presidential elections in which President Yoweri Museveni is expected to prolong his 40-year rule. A government regulatory body instructed mobile network operators to block public internet access starting at 6pm (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday. Internet monitor NetBlocks later confirmed a nation-scale disruption to internet connectivity."

"Ugandan security personnel have rounded up hundreds of opposition supporters in advance of the vote and repeatedly fired live bullets and tear gas at pro-Wine campaign rallies. Meanwhile, opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who challenged Museveni in four previous elections, is jailed on charges of treason. The United Nations Human Rights Office has criticised Uganda's authorities for creating an environment of widespread repression and intimidation before the vote."

"Wine views his candidacy as a campaign against impunity, reported Al Jazeera's Catherine Soi from Kampala, Uganda. But he doesn't believe that he is going to get a free or fair election. Museveni's government said security forces are acting to stop what it described as lawless conduct by opposition supporters. The Uganda Communications Commission defended the internet shutdown as necessary to curb misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks."

Uganda imposed a nationwide internet blackout days before the January 15 presidential election, with a government regulatory body instructing mobile network operators to block public internet access from 6pm (15:00 GMT). Internet monitor NetBlocks confirmed a nation-scale disruption. The outage has heightened concerns about repression as 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni seeks another term and faces challenger Bobi Wine. Security personnel have rounded up hundreds of opposition supporters and fired live bullets and tear gas at campaign rallies. Opposition figure Kizza Besigye is jailed on treason charges. The UN criticised authorities for creating widespread repression and the International Crisis Group said Museveni has effectively locked down re-election. The Uganda Communications Commission defended the shutdown as necessary to curb misinformation and electoral fraud.

Read at www.aljazeera.com