Uganda’s Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara has blamed the country’s ongoing internet outage on a ship damaging fibre optic cables in Mombasa, Kenya.
He shared the claim on social media, saying a vessel cut the lines while passing by. The outage started on January 13, 2026, and has disrupted services nationwide, including cargo handling at Mombasa port.
Balaam posted that he got the info from friends in Mombasa. He said the team works around the clock to fix it. The minister assured people the connection would return soon.
But reactions called his explanation a lie. Many pointed out the timing lines up with the general election on January 15. Critics said the government shut it down to control info during the vote.
The Uganda Communications Commission ordered the blackout. A letter to providers said to suspend public internet from 6 p.m. on January 13. It covered mobile broadband, fibre optic and satellite like Starlink. The shutdown is indefinite until they say otherwise. Officials cited public safety to stop misinformation and violence.
Internet monitor NetBlocks confirmed the nationwide disruption. It started right after the order. Services like mobile money and online banking stopped. People could not access social media or news sites. The military deployed in cities as polls neared.
The outage hit trade too. Cargo handlers at Mombasa port paused clearing for Uganda and landlocked neighbours. Systems rely on the internet for tracking and payments. Trucks waited as docs could not process.
Balaam’s ship story drew mockery. Comments said it cut only Ugandan cables, not Kenya’s. Others noted Kenya has normal service. One user called it idiot reasoning. The minister’s post got thousands of replies. Many accused the government of censorship during elections.
Uganda has done shutdowns before. In 2021, they blocked social media for months after polls. This time, it complicates monitoring. Observers say it hides irregularities. Opposition leaders called it a tactic to suppress votes.
The election pits President Yoweri Museveni against challengers. Museveni has ruled since 1986. Critics say shutdowns help control narratives. The government denies political motives. They say it’s for safety.
Businesses suffer. Banks, shops and transporters face delays. Cargo at Mombasa piles up. Uganda imports most goods through the port. Delays cost money daily.
No word on when service returns. Balaam said soon, but no timeline. Teams work to restore, he claimed. But if it’s a shutdown, it lifts when authorities say.
This outage shows tensions around elections. Internet access matters for info and trade. Uganda’s move draws eyes from neighbours and the world.
