NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13- Ugandans have been thrown into darkness “until further notice” after internet service providers implemented a ban on all social media platforms and online messaging applications.
The ban was effected hours before 18 million Ugandans participate in a presidential election on Thursday, which could end or extend President Yoweri Museveni’s 3-decade rule.
The race to remove Museveni from State House has attracted 10 contenders, but it is Robert Kyagulanyi alias, Bobi Wine, who is seen to be the main challenger.
Wine is aged 38 while Museveni is aged 76 years.
“Uganda Communications Commission hereby directs you to immediately suspend any access and use, direct or otherwise, of all social media platforms and online messaging applications over your network until further notice,” reads a letter from the Uganda Communications Commission to internet service providers.
The campaign period saw Ugandan security forces launch a ruthless crackdown on the opposition supporters.
Ahead of the election on Thursday, Wine said all his campaign team had been detained and in several accounts been arrested.
“So, the private security company that has been guarding my home for the last 12 years has been ordered to withdraw security at my house. Their supervisors showed up unannounced at midnight, disarmed my guard and said they had instructions to immediately withdraw my security,” Wine said in a Tweet on Thursday.
The US Embassy in Kampala has since said it will not observe the election after the Electoral Commission of Uganda denied more than 75 percent of the U.S. election observer accreditations.
“With only 15 accreditations approved, it is not possible for the United States to meaningfully observe the conduct of Uganda’s elections at polling sites across the country,” Ambassador Natalie Brown said in a statement.
“Despite multiple requests, the Electoral Commission provided no explanation for its decision, which it communicated mere days before the elections. The purpose of a diplomatic observation of elections is to demonstrate our interest in a free, fair, peaceful, and inclusive electoral process. Diplomatic observers are not participants or advisors in the electoral process. Rather, they informally observe the conduct of elections, following strict standards of impartiality, non-interference, and compliance with local laws.
The Government of Uganda has supported such U.S. observer efforts in multiple previous Ugandan elections. This makes the decision now to deny accreditation to all but a small, randomly selected handful of our observers all the more troubling.”
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