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VPN interest spikes in Uganda as the internet gets disrupted ahead of the
general elections

Date:
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:50:22 +0000

Description:
Despite the blocked access to the public internet, people in Uganda seem to 
be using VPNs to stay connected. Proton VPN confirmed a 8,000% increase in
signups on Tuesday, and usage keeps rising.

FULL STORY

An interest in VPN apps has quickly spiked among Uganda's citizens as
authorities ordered an internet shutdown on Tuesday (January 13), two days
ahead of the country's presidential elections. 

As per the latest Google Trends data , searches for the term 'VPN' began
rising immediately after the internet shutdown was enforced, and continue to
rise at the time of writing. 

 Proton VPN confirmed an 8,000% increase in signups from Uganda between 2 pm
and 3 pm GMT on Tuesday alone. "We had already seen two prior spikes in recent
weeks, as locals prepared for a predicted Internet blackout," added David
Peterson, Proton VPN's General Manager, in a tweet .

This comes despite the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordering a
temporary suspension of public internet access. While essential services like
online banking and government administrative portals are excluded from the
block, impacted services include social media apps, video streaming 
platforms, and messaging apps. Satellite internet services like Starlink are
aslo blocked. 

As per the order, only authorized personnel are allowed to use a virtual
private network (VPN) to access suspended services. Restrictions will remain
in force until the UCC issues a restoration notice. 

Earlier this month, the UCC dismissed the rumors of a potential internet
shutdown, while warning individuals looking to use VPNs to circumvent the ban
on Facebook that they are not " immune to legal action ."

Are VPN working in Uganda?

As we are seeing with the ongoing Iranian digital blackout , not even the 
best VPN apps can help people get back online during a total internet
shutdown. That's because VPNs and similar circumventing tools need a
functioning internet connection to work. 

The situation in Uganda, however, appears to be different. According to 
social media reports , some people in the country have managed to evade
restrictions by connecting to VPNs. 

Another tweet shows VPN apps are among the most downloaded apps in Uganda's
official app stores right now, alongside mesh messaging using Bluetooth
connections instead, such as Bitchat. 

This may be bound to the fact that Uganda's internet connectivity levels were
still around 20% on Wednesday morning, according to NetBlocks data . For
comparison, in Iran, connectivity levels have been near zero since January 8,
making a VPN impossible to use since the beginning.

However, the situation in Uganda could further develop in the next few hours. 

Why has Uganda suspended internet access?

The UCC said that the internet shutdown is a necessary measure "to mitigate
the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud 
and related risks, as well as preventing of incitment of violence that could
affect public confidence and national security during the election period." 

Digital rights experts, however, have long warned that access to the internet
is crucial to guarantee free access to information and freedom of expression
during such a delicate period. "These rights are essential to inclusive
participation, and a cornerstone of free, fair and credible elections," wrote
Access Now . 

Uganda has a long history of cutting the internet, especially during
elections. Authorities did so during the highly contested elections of 2021,
with restrictions lasting one week. In that instance, authorities even cut
access to more than 100 VPN apps, said Access Now. 

The Committee to Protect Journalists has already reported on Ugandan
journalists being assaulted for covering the lead-up to the crucial
presidential elections. This election will see, for the second time,
opposition leader Bobi Wine, a singer-turned-politician, battling against the
almost 40-year-long President, Yoweri Museveni. 

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/vpn-interest-spikes-in-ugan
da-as-the-internet-gets-disrupted-ahead-of-the-general-elections

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