Online safety & content laws in Uganda (2026)

On 13 January 2026, the UCC issued directive ECO/436 ordering all licensed mobile network operators and ISPs to suspend public internet access, messaging, social media, and data roaming ahead of the 15 January general elections, citing misinformation and national security. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights condemned the shutdown as unlawful.

The Computer Misuse Act No. 2 of 2011, amended in October 2022, criminalises 'misuse of social media,' including publishing content under a false identity and sharing information deemed harmful. Penalties reach UGX 15 million (~USD 4,700) or up to five years imprisonment. Social media account managers of organisations are personally liable for offences committed on those accounts. Critics, including Amnesty International, warn the law is weaponised against journalists and political opponents.

The Uganda Communications Commission routinely issues directives to broadcasters and online content creators, threatening suspension for violating 'public morality' and 'minimum broadcasting standards.' Ahead of the 2026 elections, the UCC intensified pressure on TikTok, X (Twitter), and YouTube users, resulting in arrests and account closures of political critics.

In 2025–2026, Uganda's Ministry of ICT announced plans to procure technology to monitor, filter, and block social media content, framed as tackling misinformation. The UCC confirmed it is 'studying the entire social media landscape' to acquire these capabilities, raising concerns from civil society about mass surveillance of online communications.

The Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019 (in force from May 2019, regulations effective March 2021) requires consent for personal data collection and processing, including explicit parental/guardian consent for children's data. Enforcement sits with the Personal Data Protection Office under NITA-U. The Act is the primary — and limited — user-protective element of Uganda's online framework.

Uganda abolished the controversial UGX 200/day OTT social media tax in July 2021, replacing it with a 12% excise duty on internet data bundles. A separate 5% digital services tax on non-resident digital companies was introduced in July 2023. These fiscal measures have further constrained affordable internet access, worsening the digital divide.