Uganda, where President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule with a seventh term on Thursday, has one of the world's youngest populations and is pinning its hopes

The country’s military headed by incumbent Gen. Yoweri Museveni’s son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, (shown above) is viewed as heavily politicized and now overshadowing the electoral body, the Electoral Commission (EC) in managing the electoral process with the assistance of the police—which is also considered militarized and partisan.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has ordered a temporary shutdown of public internet access and selected mobile services from 6:00 pm on January 13, 2026, during the election period. The directive affects public internet access,