Mobile money agent Mirembe Tracy laments that her business in Uganda's bustling capital Kampala was paralyzed when the government shut the internet during last week's fiercely contested general election. All withdrawals were disconnected, she tells the BBC, adding that she gets nearly all of her income from withdrawal commissions. Without it, her income dropped to zero. In one week I can earn up to 450,000 [Ugandan] shillings (£96; $130). That money is what I use to pay rent. Losing it was a total loss, she says. For two days either side of the election, there was nothing she could do but stay at home - she could only sell prepaid airtime credit, which she says does not give a commission.
Uganda's communications authority ordered the nationwide shutdown to ensure peace, protect national stability and prevent the misuse of communication platforms during a sensitive national exercise. The opposition said it was a move to cover up voter fraud and stop its agents from sharing the results from polling stations. Either way, it brought many aspects of modern life to a halt.
Online businesses that rely on mobile money transactions were most affected by the blackout, with some coming to a standstill while others reverted to cash-based transactions. Kampala is famous for its ubiquitous boda boda (motorcycle) taxis, with many operators earning their income through online ride-hailing apps. The co-founder of SafeBoda told local media that the platform's entire server was down during the internet suspension, with many riders forced off the road and other businesses that depend on the service deprived of their income.
Namukwaya Olivia, who sells traditional cultural clothing and depends heavily on Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp to reach customers, says she did not make any deliveries during the period. She tells the BBC that many of her customers ask for pictures before deciding on what to buy.
We could not send pictures, we could not receive orders, and we could not make deliveries, the businesswoman says. She adds that the effect of the shutdown was immediate, making it difficult to cover basic costs. We couldn't pay rent during that period, she says. Even now, things have not fully recovered because customers still struggle to access us online.
Journalist Ngabo Amon says his smartphone became largely useless during the blackout. You have a phone, but there is nothing to do with it, he tells the BBC. He could no longer research stories, follow election developments, or send material to his newsroom. Everyday life transformed into anxious stretches of waiting for the internet to be restored.
Some households reverted to watching television to keep themselves occupied, either watching live or buying downloaded old movies from shops. People bought what they could afford, went back home and just watched, because there were no other options, Ngabo says.
Young people found it particularly hard to cope without internet. Ronnie Mwesigwa, 20, lost contact with all his friends and had no access to online entertainment. I couldn't communicate with anyone, and even gaming was gone, he recalls. To entertain himself, he turned to content already stored on his phone, only viewing his gallery. That was all I could do.
Ngabo explains that the blackout was especially problematic for journalists trying to cover the election. You are talking about people rioting, about tension on the streets, but the audience is only seeing your photo and hearing your voice, and it is not satisfying for the journalist or the viewer, he points out. President Yoweri Museveni won the vote to extend his 40-year rule, claiming that the opposition was attempting to overturn results through violence. His closest challenger, Bobi Wine, labeled the results fake and mentioned instances of ballot stuffing.
A report by the African Union (AU) election observation mission states that the internet shutdown limited access to information and curtailed economic activities. It also notes that the shutdown created suspicion and mistrust in the election process. Journalists in rural areas faced even harsher challenges, having to physically transport footage back to their newsrooms, leading to significant delays.
Caroline Mutai, a journalist who went to Uganda to cover the elections, described the shutdown as almost leading her to depression. The lack of connectivity also left her cut off from family during a time of heightened insecurity.
Students also felt the impact; Aaron Benitez, a final-year pupil, expressed his struggles. I needed to know what was happening with my family and what was going on in the country, he explains. Online learning, which relies heavily on internet access, suffered significantly during the blackout.
Despite the government partially restoring internet services post-election, many platforms remain slow or restricted, prompting young people to use VPNs to reconnect. For many, the shutdown was not just a temporary inconvenience but highlighted the deep dependence communities have on digital access for both their livelihoods and everyday interactions.
