CDF Muhoozi confirms full restoration of social media after election shutdown

Kampala, Uganda: The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and First Son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced the full restoration of social media platforms in Uganda, marking the final phase of the government-imposed internet shutdown that followed the 2026 general elections.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday morning, Gen Muhoozi said all social media access had been released, thanking Ugandans for what he described as cooperation and patience during the tense electoral period.

“We are releasing all social media today. I thank all the great people of Uganda for their support and cooperation throughout this electoral season. You are truly the greatest people on earth, and you give us all the courage to serve. God bless you all,” Muhoozi wrote.

The announcement effectively brings to an end weeks of restricted internet access that began two days to the January 15 general elections, when authorities ordered a nationwide shutdown citing security concerns.

At the time, access to social media platforms and some internet services was blocked as part of measures aimed at maintaining public order during polling and tallying.

Following the conclusion of elections, the restoration of internet services was rolled out in phases. Core internet connectivity was gradually reinstated for essential services and institutions, followed by partial access for businesses and private users.

However, major social media platforms, including X, Facebook, WhatsApp, and others, remained inaccessible until Gen Muhoozi’s announcement on Uganda’s Liberation Day celebrations.

The prolonged restriction had drawn criticism from civil society groups, opposition politicians, and sections of the business community, who argued that the shutdown disrupted communication, commerce, and access to information.

Government officials, on the other hand, defended the measures as necessary to prevent misinformation, incitement, and violence during a sensitive political period.

With the full reopening of social media, Uganda’s digital space is now fully restored, allowing citizens, media houses, businesses, and political actors to resume normal online activity.

Gen Muhoozi’s message also struck a conciliatory tone, praising Ugandans for their restraint and framing the restoration as a return to normalcy after what he described as a demanding electoral season.

The government has not issued a separate formal statement detailing the end of the shutdown, but the CDF’s announcement is widely being interpreted as confirmation that all internet restrictions linked to the elections have now been lifted.