KAMPALA, UGANDA: Government has finally announced that Facebook is set to officially reopen for free access after nearly two years since the social media platform was banned countrywide.
The development was on Tuesday confirmed by the State minister for ICT and National Guidance Godfrey Kabyanga who said negotiations with the service providers are in final stages to have Facebook reopened for all.
Kabyanga was speaking at a function to mark World Press Freedom Day in Kampala on Tuesday, 03 May 2022. He said; “Facebook is to officially open under a month, but use it wisely. Do not abuse government,” he said.
According to Kabyanga, the government is aware of the role of social media in easing the work of journalists.
“We are, therefore, alive to the realisation that the digital age enables more and more people to become aware of corruption, maladministration, unethical behaviour by public officials and businesses, and serious human rights violations,” he said.
Museveni bans Facebook
Facebook, together with other micro-blogging sites (Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp) were blocked by President Museveni as the country geared up for the 2021 general elections.
The ban left Ugandans with only using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access the social media sites.
However, months later, Museveni restored Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, but upheld the blockage on Facebook accusing the platform of being arrogant after it took down a number of pro-government accounts.
In response, Facebook said they had removed Ugandan pro – Museveni accounts for using duplicate accounts ahead of the presidential elections.
The same report also showed that the total number of deleted accounts in the same purge was 426. 210 pages, 62 groups, and 153 Instagram accounts.
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