Uganda’s communications regulator on Saturday warned the public against a fake notice circulating on social media that falsely claims the commission plans to restrict banking, mobile money and other communication services ahead of the country’s 2026 elections.
In a public advisory dated Jan. 3, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) said the notice, which is branded with the commission’s logo and titled “Communication Measures Ahead, During and After Elections 2026,” did not originate from the regulator.
“The Uganda Communications Commission alerts the public that a circulating notice is fake and not issued by the Commission,” UCC said, urging citizens to ignore the document and rely only on official UCC channels for accurate information.
The Uganda Communications Commission has formally disowned the document, warning the public against being misled. In an official advisory, UCC stated that the circulating notice was not issued by the Commission and urged the public to rely only on its verified communication channels for accurate information.
Beyond the official denial, multiple inconsistencies confirm that the document is fabricated.
First, UCC has no legal mandate over banking services. The Commission regulates telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal services under the Uganda Communications Act. It does not supervise commercial banks or financial transactions. Any directive instructing citizens to withdraw money from banks would fall under the authority of the Bank of Uganda, not UCC.
Second, the claim of a nationwide mobile money shutdown is false. Mobile money services are regulated under the National Payment Systems framework, with oversight by the Bank of Uganda in collaboration with telecom operators. No directive has been issued by the central bank or licensed service providers announcing such a suspension.
Third, the notice misrepresents UCC’s powers by selectively citing the law while stretching it beyond its scope. The Uganda Communications Act does not authorise blanket, week-long internet shutdowns without formal legal instruments and public gazettement.
Finally, the language and format of the notice are inconsistent with official UCC communication, and the document does not appear on the Commission’s website, verified social media platforms, or in credible media reports.
The circulating notice is false and misleading. There is no UCC directive ordering bank withdrawals, mobile money shutdowns, or an internet blackout ahead of the 2026 elections. The public is advised to ignore the fake notice and consult official UCC channels for verified updates.
A notice circulating on social media claiming to be a Public Notice from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) announcing the suspension of internet services, mobile money, and banking operations ahead of the 2026 elections is fake. The document claims that UCC has ordered a shutdown of internet, mobile money, and banking services ahead of the 2026 elections.
Internet Shutdown
In 2021, Uganda’s government shut down social media and internet access during the country’s elections.
However, the East African Law Society responded by filing a legal challenge at the East African Court of Justice.
The shutdown affected online mobile application stores, including the Google Play Store and the App Store, while blocking more than 100 Virtual Private Networks to prevent attempts to bypass its Internet censorship.
According to the East Africa Law Society (EALS), the government issued instructions on January 13, 2021 requiring all Internet Service Providers in Uganda to block access to the Internet.
This led to a total Internet shutdown lasting five days, from 13 to 18 January 2021, including the January 14 polling day.
During this period, no Internet platforms of any kind were accessible.
Although general Internet access was restored on January 18, social media remained blocked for several more days.
The EALS also noted that access to Facebook remained restricted at the time of their report.
The law society stated that ordinary citizens were disconnected from essential services, including online banking and payment systems, Internet-based food suppliers, and travel or transport services.
UCC said it only issues official updates through its verified communication platforms and warned that the spread of false information could cause unnecessary public anxiety, especially in the run-up to national polls.
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