Uganda’s government has restricted imports of Starlink satellite internet equipment weeks before a closely watched national election, raising opposition fears of a repeat of internet blackouts seen during previous polls.
The restrictions emerged as President Yoweri Museveni, 81, prepares to seek another term in the January 15 vote, a contest that again pits him against opposition figure Bobi Wine, 43, a pop star turned politician.
Details of the move surfaced in a leaked memo from the Uganda Revenue Authority dated December 19 that circulated on social media. A spokesperson for the tax agency later confirmed the memo was genuine.
The document said any imports of “Starlink technology gadgets, communication equipment and associated components” must now be cleared by the head of the military, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is Museveni’s son.
The revenue authority sought to play down the development, saying many countries impose controls on the importation of communications technology.
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, does not yet have a licence to operate in Uganda, although many Ugandans have been importing the equipment and using the service regardless.
According to Reuters, opposition leader Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, criticised the move in a post on X, calling the restrictions on Starlink imports “ridiculous.”
“If they’re not planning mischief (electoral fraud), why are they so scared of people accessing interest during the electoral process?,” Wine wrote.
During Uganda’s 2021 election, the government shut down internet access for several days. Wine, who finished a distant second in that vote, rejected the results, saying he lost due to rigging, an allegation Museveni has denied.
Museveni, a former rebel leader, has been credited by supporters with restoring stability, driving economic growth and leading efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Critics, however, accuse his government of suppressing political opponents, committing human rights abuses and fostering corruption.
The president and his allies have amended the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, changes that have allowed Museveni to remain in power for decades.
