Category: Daily Monitor

The incumbent district councilor representing workers at Kabale District Council, Saturday George, boycotted the Special Interest Groups (SIG) elections held on January 21 at Kabale Municipal Stadium, citing irregularities in the voters’ registers.

George, a member of the Uganda Government and Allied Workers Union, said he was duly nominated by the Electoral Commission in September last year using registers submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Gender, but neither he nor members of his union appeared on the final voters’ list used during the election.

‘Being a duly nominated candidate for the post of district councilor representing workers at Kabale district council, I have taken a decision to boycott this election because of irregularities in the voters registers that were presented by the electoral commission,’ George said at a press conference held Thursday afternoon in Kabale Town.

He said the registers had been undergoing continuous updates and that union members expected to participate in the vote.

‘We expected our members of the unions to appear on these registers including myself but we did not appear in the registers and I do not know criteria that was used to select voters for this exercise because all my union members and delegates did not appear in these registers,’ he said.

‘Because of these irregularities, I have decided to boycott this exercise besides petitioning the electoral commission Kabale office for redress,’ he added.

Through his lawyers, Elgon Advocates, George formally petitioned the Electoral Commission’s Kabale office, seeking cancellation of the workers’ representative election until the registers are fully updated.

He also requested the creation of what he described as a favourable environment for all unions to participate by ensuring accurate voter registration.

Kabale District Electoral Commission Returning Officer Aisha Nansubuga acknowledged receipt of the complaint, saying the matter would be reviewed.

‘It’s true I received the complaint from Mr Saturday George and the electoral commission will make a reply after looking into it,’ Nansubuga said.

She added: ‘The alleged irregularities in the registers are not our making because the electoral commission is the end user.’

Despite the boycott, the Electoral Commission later announced results for the workers’ council positions.

Collins Saturday Kahesi, an independent candidate, won the male workers’ councilor seat with 188 votes, while George, running on the ruling NRM ticket, polled 17 votes.

For the female workers’ councilor position, Ruth Arinatwe Sunday, an independent candidate, secured 182 votes, defeating NRM’s Betty Amasiko, who polled 23 votes.

In the district youth council elections, Hellen Natasha (independent) and Edgar Atungire (NRM) were declared elected unopposed.

In the male Persons with Disabilities (PWD) category, independent candidate Fulgensi Ayebare and NRM’s Zephrino Semwogerere tied with 37 votes each. Electoral officials said the matter would be reported for a repeat election.

For the female PWD seat, Ana Kobusingye (independent) polled 36 votes, while Promise Katushabe (NRM) won with 38 votes.

A pastor attached to Sovereign Revival Church of Christ (SRCC) in Bukedea, Mr Abraham Ikara, is on the run after preaching against election violence during a Sunday service following the January 15 General Election.

Ikara claims security operatives attempted to arrest him, mistakenly detaining his brother, who was later released.

‘After they arrested my brother on mistaken identity, they released him but immediately surrounded my home, lucky enough by that time I had checked out,’ Ikara said on Wednesday evening.

He said his sermon, addressing ‘sin committed in politics and at workplaces,’ was misinterpreted by a state informant in the congregation as incitement to violence.

He added that his role as election manager for independent Bukedea County MP candidate John Bosco Ikojo also put him at risk.

Ikojo, who ran independently after contested NRM primaries, told local media that his home in Malera Sub-county had been under surveillance since January 14. He alleged widespread electoral irregularities and voter intimidation.

‘These goons took over the election exercise, they denied journalist access to Bukedea, they ticked all the ballot papers in favour of the candidate of their choice, that by 10:00am, all polling stations had been deserted as the goons staged havoc under the protection of 17 police vans,’ Ikojo said.

He said authorities sought his arrest after what he described as a stolen victory, forcing him briefly to flee to Kenya before assurances of protection from the President’s Office allowed his return.

Ikojo claimed that less than 2% of registered voters cast ballots, but results were apportioned to give 68,000 votes to the declared winner, 10,000 to him, and smaller amounts to other candidates.

His campaign manager, bodyguard, and over 30 supporters were arrested and remanded to Bukedea government prison.

Dozens of residents also fled due to threats of arrest with LC3 candidate Joseph Amailem telling Monitor that his business was ransacked, and he had to leave Malera.

‘I am an LC3 candidate but for the last 8 days, I have not been able to campaign, they want me arrested,’ Amailem said.

Deputy Regional Police Commander for South Kyoga, Samuel Abbedi, denied that police aided election violence, saying investigations into allegations raised by Ikara and others are ongoing.

‘Victims should learn to report matters to police. That is what helps us as law enforcement institution to conduct thorough investigations,’ Abbedi said, adding that citizens aggrieved by results should seek remedies through the courts.

President Museveni on Wednesday bid farewell to the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, during a courtesy call at his country home in Kisozi, Gomba District.

President Museveni congratulated Ambassador Zhang upon completing his tour of duty and wished him well in his next assignment.

‘I wish you well in your next assignment,’ the President said.

Museveni praised the continued strengthening of bilateral relations between Uganda and China, noting a steady growth in trade and cooperation.

‘I am happy to note that Uganda’s exports to China have increased to $138 million, although this is still not enough and we should be able to do much more,’ he said.

The President welcomed China’s decision to remove taxes on Ugandan exports, saying the move would significantly boost trade and support wealth creation efforts.

‘Regarding Chinese investments in Uganda, we have been supporting Chinese interests for a long time, and we shall continue to do so,’ Museveni added.

On his part, Ambassador Zhang thanked President Museveni and the Ugandan government for the cooperation and support extended to him during his tenure.

Early this week, Ugandan officials said Ambassador Zhang’s term helped push Uganda-China relations to their strongest level in six decades, marked by major infrastructure projects and deepening strategic cooperation.

Zhang assumed office in Kampala in 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and is expected to return to Beijing at the end of January after serving for four years and seven months.

Candidates contesting for LC5 seats in Busoga sub-region have drawn lessons from the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections to improve their chances of success.

Mr Geoffrey Lubega, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) flag bearer in Jinja City, emphasised the importance of unity among candidates to prevent electoral malpractice.

“I was told that in Kampala, declaration forms for an opposition candidate were seized and destroyed, which led to his loss. From that incident, I learned an important lesson to guide me,” Lubega said.

He advised candidates to leave a copy of the Declaration Forms when proceeding to the tally centre, as opponents could attempt to seize the original and replace it with forged results.

Lubega noted that if the majority of candidates submit Declaration Forms with matching vote figures, it becomes difficult for any single candidate to alter the results.

“One of the candidates in Jinja West Constituency brought a Declaration form with inflated votes but failed to succeed, as the majority of other candidates had similar figures on their forms, which they presented to the Returning Officer to reject the forged one,” he said.

He emphasised that party flag bearers should monitor all votes for their members, not just their own constituencies, as many were neglecting votes for their party presidents at the tally centers.

Lubega noted that there are 14 candidates in the Jinja City mayoral race, but if more than half of them coordinate and speak the same language, the chances of vote manipulation can be significantly reduced.

Sharif Mangarani, the Buyende District NRM flag bearer, warned against compromising security operatives guarding polling stations.

“From this presidential election, I learned that compromising by security officers at polling stations was common, so candidates should not place full trust in them during elections,” Mangarani said.

He stressed that in Buyende District, some security officials allegedly ticked votes for other candidates after being bribed, even though they were supposed to safeguard the votes for all candidates.

Mangarani advised candidates to assist in transporting voters, noting that many had lost morale after their preferred candidates were defeated in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Mr Ibrahim Ndoga, the Bugweri District FDC flag bearer, acknowledged that the Electoral Commission (EC) correctly declared the candidates who received the highest number of votes in his area.

“The Electoral Commission was perfect in my area this time; I was convinced that if a candidate wins, they can truly take the day,” Ndoga said.

However, he faulted the EC for delays in announcing the winner, which raised suspicions of vote rigging among candidates, something that should not happen, especially since LC5 polls are conducted on a Thursday.

Ndoga indicated that although there was a heavy security deployment intended to maintain peace, it ended up intimidating voters and contributed to low turnout during the presidential elections.

Abdallah Suta, an independent candidate in the Jinja District LC5 race, noted that the breakdown of Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs) during the presidential and parliamentary polls intimidated voters, which could affect turnout in the LC5 elections.

“People thought the hardship from the NRM primary polls had returned, so they stayed away from voting. I pray that these machines are not used in our elections,” Suta said. He appealed to the EC to base the declaration of winners strictly on the facts.

Ms Colline Angwech, a dedicated advocate for children’s welfare, is the new Member of Parliament for Kioga Country, after beating six male opponents, including a retired UPDF Colonel.

Angwech, representing the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), secured 9,342 votes, followed by Felix Adupa Ongwech (NRM) with 7,001 votes. The incumbent, Moses Junior Okot B’tek (FDC), came third with 3,711 votes.

Col (rtd) Dr Francis Ongia (Ind) was in fourth position with 3,207 votes, Dr Carlos Opul (Ind) got 1,794, while Mr Denis Onyum (NUP) got only 103 votes.

Ms Angwech attributes her success to her leadership, professionalism, and community advocacy, with a strong track record in education, healthcare, and social empowerment.

Her experience with NGOs and CBOs has improved service delivery, particularly for vulnerable communities.

“My efforts have benefited thousands of students in Amolatar District, while supporting private and government schools in infrastructure development,” she said.

Ms Angwech, served as the Country Director for Hope for Humans, an organization that supported children affected by nodding syndrome in Northern Uganda.

‘In this role, I provided oversight for community-based interventions, ensuring that children received medical care, education, and nutritional support,’ Ms Angwech told the Monitor on Thursday.

She also worked with Invisible Children, an NGO which worked in Northern Uganda during the height of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel’s insurgency and helped in tracing the abducted children.

‘I worked with Invisible Children, advocating for victims of the LRA war and representing Uganda on international platforms, including a TEDx conference in New York,’ Ms Angwech said.

‘I also co-founded Far Away Friends, an NGO focused on empowering youth through education, cross-cultural engagement, and economic sustainability,’ she added.

Beyond advocacy, she also made significant contributions to local development. As a co-founder of Global Leaders Primary School, she has provided quality education to 500 children in the area.

‘I will monitor and hold the government accountable for how public funds are spent and how policies are implemented. This includes scrutinizing government programs, ensuring transparency, and fighting corruption to ensure resources reach the people they are meant for,’ Ms Angwech said.

She pledged to work with local leaders and stakeholders to support community development projects, including improving schools, health centers, and roads.

‘I will mobilize resources and support initiatives that uplift my constituents, such as; supporting youth and women’s empowerment programs, economic initiatives, and community-driven projects. I will work hard to promote agribusiness, improve market access for farmers, and push for policies that strengthen local economies,’ she pledged.

As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) prepares to celebrate 40 years since it took power, voices demanding recognition and compensation for contributions made during Uganda’s long liberation struggle have not fallen silent. One such voice belongs to Prof Solomon Baluki Wakabi of Nakabago Village in Mukono Municipality, who says four decades on, his role remains ignored. ‘For 37 years, I have looked for President Museveni in vain,’ Prof Wakabi says. ‘I joined the liberation struggle immediately following Idi Amin’s military takeover in 1971, when I was barely 15 years old. My family lost a lot during the entire struggle,’ he adds.

Prof Wakabi says during the Bush War, he was an external resource mobiliser for the NRA/NRM through the late Dr Samson Kisekka. ‘But up to now, I have never been compensated or recognised at all. History has to be put right,’ he adds. Prof Wakabi, the founder of Fairland High School and Fairland Foundation, an organisation that supports vulnerable children to access affordable education, said he has spent decades seeking recognition like others who participated in the liberation struggle in vain. He says since returning to Uganda in 1990 after completing doctoral studies in the Philippines, he has written numerous letters to President Museveni, sought help from senior government officials, and even reached out to Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, all in vain.

‘I have written countless letters to the President, approached several senior officials and sought assistance from the CDF, but nothing has worked,’ he says. ‘I am surprised that my name appears nowhere among those who contributed to the liberation, yet I suffered and my family lost a lot,’ he adds. Prof Wakabi traces his political awakening to his childhood. Born on September 18, 1956, to the late Kezekia Wakabi and Dorothy Kyomubi of Buwenge Town in present-day Jinja District, he grew up in a household that closely followed national and regional affairs. ‘At home, we read newspapers like Munno, Uganda Argus and Taifa Empya,’ he recalls. ‘What caught my attention most were the rampant military takeovers on the African continent and the gross human rights violations that followed,’ he adds.]

When Idi Amin seized power in January 1971, Wakabi was a student at Jinja Senior Secondary School. While many Ugandans initially celebrated the coup, he says he was among the few who sensed danger. ‘Though Amin received a warm welcome and became a darling to many, I immediately sought to fight him and his regime,’ he says. Inspired by Tanzania’s refusal under President Julius Nyerere to recognise Amin’s government, Wakabi wrote directly to Nyerere, asking him to intervene militarily to help remove the dictator. ‘My letter was intercepted by Post Office officials at Buwenge,’ he says. ‘Soon after, authorities invaded my father’s home and arrested him. They also came to my school and arrested me,’ he adds.

His arrest was widely reported on Radio Uganda and in newspapers, including Uganda Argus, Munno and Taifa Empya. He was later arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Jinja, charged with sedition, convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. ‘Because I was barely 15 years old, the magistrate converted the prison sentence into probation; I was confined at home, with my movements restricted except for school,’ he says. After completing high school in 1975, Amin’s government offered him a job as a community development assistant in South Busoga, now Iganga District. He declined, fearing for his safety. He instead enrolled at Bugema College (now Bugema University) to study theology.

With the support of Dr Kisekka, Wakabi later fled into exile in Malindi, Kenya, where he continued lobbying for Tanzanian support for Uganda’s liberation.

After Amin’s fall, Wakabi returned to Uganda and dedicated himself to community development. However, the disputed 1980 elections plunged the country into another period of conflict, culminating in the NRA/NRM Bush War. ‘With Dr Kisekka, we mobilised resources to support the struggle,’ he says. ‘In 1986, Museveni won the war, and I was there in person when he was sworn in at Parliament,’ he adds. Prof Wakabi says Dr Kisekka, who became prime minister, had planned to introduce him to President Museveni. But before that meeting could take place, Wakabi received a scholarship to pursue doctoral studies in the Philippines. He returned in 1990. On his return, he joined efforts to transform Bugema College into a university, a milestone achieved in 1994. By then, Dr Kisekka had been removed from office and later passed away.

Struggles

‘Since then, I have struggled to meet the President but in vain,’ he adds. He adds that his late father sold 50 acres of family land to finance his court defence during Amin’s regime, sacrifices he says were made for the sake of liberation and good governance. ‘We have never received any recognition or compensation,’ he says. ‘We have been denied access to the President for four decades. Yet I was part of the external mobilisation team that facilitated the struggle,’ he adds.

Despite his frustrations, Wakabi says he has continued serving the country.

‘I have worked to transform lives, especially those of vulnerable children, through Fairland High School and Foundation. But it pains me that my efforts have gone unrecognised while others have been compensated,’ he adds. As the NRM marks four decades in power, Prof Wakabi says his appeal is simple. ‘I want the records to be put right; I want to be counted among those who risked and contributed to the peace of this country from the early days of Idi Amin.’

Uganda remains on course to produce commercial oil by the end of July, according to government and international oil companies.

This will mark a historic milestone nearly 20 years after discovery of commercially viable oil reserves. The projection is anchored on progress at three key sites: Kingfisher Development Area on the shores of Lake Albert in Kikuube District, operated by CNOOC, Tilenga and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

As of last week, overall project implementation stood at 79 percent. Major milestones have been achieved across Uganda, including the completion of land acquisition along the entire Ugandan pipeline route, allowing uninterrupted construction and installation works.

In a statement, EACOP said line pipe manufacturing in China was completed last September, while insulation works at the Thermal Insulation System coating plant in Tanzania were finalised on December 27, 2025.

EACOP added that on January 10, 2026, the last truck carrying the final batch of line pipes arrived at the Main Camp and Pipe Yard 4 in Uganda, marking the successful completion of line pipe transportation for the Ugandan section of the project.

Pipeline construction across the project currently stands at 62 percent, with more than 1,400 kilometres welded and 500 kilometres fully buried.

‘Above-Ground Installation works in Uganda are advancing steadily, supporting readiness of pumping and support facilities,’ EACOP said, noting that at Pump Station 1 in Kabaale, Hoima District, concrete works are 75 percent complete, steel erection 71 percent, and piping and welding 55 percent.

Overall site completion stands at 71 percent, with over 750 workers on site.

Construction activities are at peak, with approximately 3,500 workers mobilised in Uganda, contributing to a total workforce of about 12,000 personnel across Uganda and Tanzania.

This level of activity is expected to continue through the first and second quarters of 2026 before transitioning into commissioning activities.

EACOP deputy managing director John Bosco Habumugisha said civil, electrical, and mechanical works are on schedule and that the entire pipeline system will be ready to deliver crude oil to the international market by the target date.

‘Technology transfer has been at the heart of the project,’ he said during an inspection of oil facilities by Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa last week.

‘Over 90 percent of the workforce are Ugandans and East Africans in Tanzania, supported by international experts to ensure quality and global standards,’ Habumugisha said, noting that the project has also prioritised community requirements such as provision of water and effective compensation to ensure land access generates positive impacts on local populations.

EACOP comprises six pump stations along its 1,443-kilometre route, stretching from Uganda to Tanzania.

Pump Station One receives crude from Kingfisher and Tilenga upstream projects, which are combined, measured, and processed to meet quality standards.

Up to 60,000 barrels per day will be supplied to the refinery, while the remaining volumes will be transported to Tanga for export.

Habumugisha said the project has progressed from civil and mechanical works to electrical, instrumentation, and telecommunications systems, with plans to power the pipeline using green and hydropower energy. A power substation is also on schedule.

Ms Nankabirwa said water access remains a key focus, with a 45-kilometre stretch of infrastructure works being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and expected to be completed by March or April.

She noted that while activities in Chongoleani, Tanzania, differ from those in Uganda, both sides are progressing steadily toward the July target.

The Chongoleani oil terminal, part of EACOP, is nearing completion, with about 1,100 kilometres of pipeline already laid across both countries.

‘At Kingfisher, we are almost at 100 percent. At the jetty in Tanga, the two-kilometre offshore section is complete, while the marine terminal, tanks, electricity installations, and water facilities are 83 percent complete,’ Ms Nankabirwa said. ‘By July, these components will be fully harmonised.’

All pumps and pipelines, she noted, have been installed, with technical commissioning scheduled for July 31, followed by political commissioning in October.

Transportation revenues are expected to begin at a tariff of $12.7 per barrel, with vessels already being aligned for shipment.

Ms Nankabirwa also revealed that a refinery at Kabalega Airport is expected to be commissioned by late March or early April.

Police in Adjumani District are investigating the disappearance of Amos Chandimale, the 34-year-old National Resistance Movement (NRM) district registrar, who went missing while traveling to deliver presidential election results to party headquarters in Kampala.

According to police, Chandimale was last heard from on January 16, 2026, at around 6:00 a.m., when he called his wife to confirm that he had completed tallying the results and was preparing to travel.

‘At approximately 0600 hours, the victim’s wife received a call from her husband, Chandimale, who informed her that he had completed tallying the presidential election results and was preparing to travel to Kampala to deliver the results,’ said Collins Asea, Police Spokesperson for the North-West Nile region.

‘At around 0700 hours, she received another call indicating he was en route,’ he added.

Since then, Chandimale’s phone has been unreachable. Relatives and a colleague, Drami, who was traveling via a separate route to Kampala, have also been unable to trace him.

‘On January 17, the wife attempted to contact him again, but he was unreachable. Statements have been collected from close relatives, and information has been circulated in Kampala to aid in the ongoing search,’ Asea said.

A case file for disappearance, CRB 045/2026, has been opened at Adjumani Police Station while police say they are working with Chandimale’s relatives and the NRM district office to locate him.

‘Efforts to recover the victim are ongoing in collaboration with the NRM office in Adjumani District,’ Asea added.

Authorities are appealing to the public to report any information that may assist in finding Chandimale. ‘Investigations are ongoing, with assistance from relatives and relevant authorities, to locate and recover the victim,’ Asea said.

Confirmation of Chandimale’s disappearance comes amid Uganda’s ongoing general elections to usher in a new president, parliament and local leaders.

Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, Gen Mugisha Muntu, on Wednesday said he lacks sufficient evidence to contest President Museveni’s victory in the January 15 election, despite disagreeing with the outcome.

Speaking to journalists at ANT headquarters in Bukoto, Kampala, the former military chief said his party was unable to deploy agents across all 50,000 polling stations, limiting their capacity to gather credible reports needed to challenge the results.

‘We weren’t organized enough to appoint agents to over 50,000 polling stations; when you have DR forms and reports directly from where agents were, you create a body of credible evidence that enables you to proceed. Unfortunately, we don’t have that,’ Gen Muntu said.

He stressed that ANT intends to build its capacity for future elections, including training and deploying agents capable of monitoring electoral malpractices such as intimidation and bribery.

‘The reality of the matter is that we are dealing with a regime that doesn’t want anyone else in power, at any cost. They don’t care about the country; there’s no doubt about that,’ he added.

Gen Muntu also highlighted what he described as the problematic use of public funds to influence voting, warning that Uganda is sitting on a ‘volcano’ of frustration and anger fueled by population growth, unemployment, and poverty.

‘The use of money has become a plague, which I really hope is going to end up causing this country deep problems where we’re heading,’ he said.

The ANT leader said that while the electoral process has not delivered the change many Ugandans hoped for, his party would support any opposition candidate or party with credible evidence to challenge election results in court.

‘Anybody who has evidence will have our backup. Once you’re factual. if they have reports from, for example, 45,000 polling stations, it gives a good way forward of using that tool as a weapon to further the struggle, whether in court or to convince the people,’ he said.

On Saturday, Justice Simon Byabakama, chairperson of Uganda’s Electoral Commission, declared Museveni the winner of the January 15 presidential vote with 7,946,772 votes, representing 71.65 percent, securing a seventh five-year term.

Bobi Wine, Museveni’s closest challenger, came second with 2,741,238 votes, or 24.72 percent. Turnout was 52.50 percent of Uganda’s 21.6 million registered voters, with 275,353 ballots recorded as invalid.

On ANT’s potential alignment with the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD), Gen Muntu said the party would decide collectively after holding a general assembly.

‘We thank God that we now have a representative in parliament. After the elections, we shall have a general assembly of all party members and we will decide if the party will be joining IPOD,’ he said.

Uganda’s recent Internet shutdown during the election period is often justified as a temporary security measure, yet its economic and fiscal consequences are anything but temporary.

Public discussion often focuses on small businesses and the informal sector, which undeniably suffer. However, the most significant and frequently overlooked damage occurs within manufacturing and large-scale production companies. These firms form the backbone of Uganda’s formal economy and are among the largest contributors to tax revenue.

Modern manufacturing depends on Internet-enabled systems such as automated production lines, cloud-based inventory management, digital procurement platforms, real-time logistics tracking, and electronic payroll and compliance systems. When connectivity is cut, production slows or stops entirely, supply chains break down, export schedules are missed, and contractual penalties arise. These disruptions directly reduce output, profits, and employment. In turn, they erode Corporate Income Tax, PAYE, VAT, excise duty, and customs-linked revenues.

The timing is particularly damaging, as many of these taxes fall due on the 15th day of the following calendar month. From a tax administration perspective, internet shutdowns deliver a dual shock. First, they suppress taxable income at source because businesses are unable to operate normally. Second, they disable the very digital compliance infrastructure relied upon by the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Systems such as EFRIS, electronic filing portals, online payment platforms, and real-time reporting tools become inaccessible. Even compliant taxpayers are pushed into involuntary default, delaying remittances and distorting revenue forecasts. For a treasury already strained by infrastructure financing, debt servicing, healthcare, and education demands, these disruptions translate into real fiscal stress rather than abstract accounting gaps. In this context, taxpayers reasonably expect administrative relief. Penalties, interest, and enforcement actions for non-compliance arising directly from a government-imposed internet shutdown undermine trust in the tax system. VAT that could not be filed or paid due to inaccessible platforms should not attract punitive measures.

A digitally driven tax system cannot impose digital obligations while simultaneously disabling access to digital tools. More proportionate alternatives exist. Uganda’s own 2021 National Internet Governance Forum multi-stakeholder position paper recommended targeted bandwidth throttling of specific high-risk platforms rather than nationwide blackouts.

Authorities could also implement pre-emptive cybersecurity coordination with major internet service providers and large businesses, ensuring that critical economic and tax compliance systems remain accessible. Establishing a clear, publicly communicated protocol between the Uganda Communications Commission and the Uganda Revenue Authority would allow rapid response to digital threats without severing the entire network. Uganda’s revenue mobilisation strategy depends on stability, continuity, and trust. Policies that periodically shut down the internet erode all three. They shrink today’s tax base while discouraging the investment needed to expand it tomorrow.

A forward-looking policy must weigh immediate security concerns against the profound long-term economic and fiscal damage, and pursue precise, minimally disruptive interventions that protect both public order and the digital economy’s vital pulse.