The landmark case, lodged at the High Court of Uganda (Civil Division), is supported by Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a pan-African non-governmental organisation advocating for digital rights and inclusion in Africa and beyond.

PIN said it is providing strategic and technical support to the applicants following the reporting of an internet shutdown incident on ripoti.africa – Paradigm Initiative’s platform for reporting and documenting digital rights violations across Africa.

The applicants have sued the Uganda Communications Commission, MTN Uganda Limited, Tangerine Limited trading as Lyca Mobile, and Airtel Uganda Limited, pursuant to the Human Rights Enforcement Act, 2019.

The application seeks urgent interim and substantive relief following the internet shutdown and throttling implemented between 13 and 18 January 2026, shortly ahead of polling day, and is currently awaiting allocation of a hearing date by the court.

On 13 January 2026, internet access across Uganda was abruptly restricted and subsequently shut down following directives issued by the Uganda Communications Commission.

The disruption persisted through the election period and was implemented without prior notice, public justification, or a clear legal basis.

The applicants, who are subscribers of the respondent telecommunications companies, contend that the shutdown severely interfered with their professional, academic, economic, and civic activities, including access to information, education, business operations, legal practice, and political participation.

The applicants argue that the actions of the respondents were arbitrary, disproportionate, and unconstitutional, and violated rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, as well as Uganda’s obligations under regional and international human rights law.

Among the remedies sought are declarations that the internet shutdown was unlawful and unconstitutional, orders for the full restoration of internet connectivity and protection against future arbitrary shutdowns, compensation for losses suffered as a result of the shutdown, and costs of the application.

If successful, the litigation is expected to affirm that internet shutdowns and throttling violate constitutionally protected rights, including freedom of expression, access to information, education, livelihood, and political participation.

It also seeks to clarify the legal limits of executive and regulatory authority over internet access, particularly during elections, establish that any restriction on internet connectivity must meet the tests of legality, necessity, proportionality, and transparency, and reinforce the human-rights responsibilities of telecommunications companies under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The case further contributes to the development of regional jurisprudence opposing election-related internet shutdowns in East Africa.

Supporting this litigation forms part of Paradigm Initiative’s broader regional strategy to challenge internet shutdowns as a tool of political control, strengthen constitutional safeguards for digital rights, and deter future election-period disruptions across the region.

The continuous weaponisation of Internet shutdowns and blockage has been on the rise lately.

This will not be the first time Senegal is shutting down the Internet for its people, as is now characteristic of African governments during protests or when elections draw near.

Similarly, on Monday, 31 July 2023, Senegal restricted access to Internet services when the opposition leader Ousmane Sonki was formally charged to court for “fomenting insurrection” by the authorities.

Reacting to the internet shutdown in Senegal, PIN said: “These shutdowns go against Article Eight of Senegal’s 2001 Constitution which guarantees citizens’ freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, and freedom of movement.

“Article 9 (1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights also provides access to information as the right to receive information and is echoed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights under Article 19(2).
“Furthermore, shutdowns create significant obstacles that damage the free flow of information, which may in turn, erode trust in electoral processes and increase the likelihood of hostilities and violence.

“Shutdowns may also lead to the disruption of financial transactions, commerce, industry, labour markets, and the availability of platforms for the delivery of services, and above all, threat to the values of democracy,

“As spelt out by Principle 37 of the Declaration of Principles On Freedom Of Expression And Access To Information In Africa, States must facilitate the rights to freedom of expression and access to information online and the means necessary to exercise these rights.

“They must also recognise that universal, equitable, affordable, and meaningful access to the Internet is necessary for the realisation of freedom of expression, access to information, and the exercise of other human rights.

“The government’s explanation of “hateful” and “subversive” messages on social media was inadequate to warrant such drastic measures, including their legal basis and underlying grounds.

“Furthermore, PIN calls on the government of Senegal to adhere to the objective of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance under Article 2(10) to promote the establishment of necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, freedom of the press and accountability in the management of public affairs. An open internet will ensure this compliance and the promotion of human rights under Article four of the same.

“We urge the government authorities to respect their citizens’ rights and desist from further attempts at future shutdowns”.