- VPNs no longer working in Uganda as internet shutdown intensifies
- After an 8,000% spike, Proton VPN confirms disruption
- Digital rights experts warn that workarounds are now very limited
VPN services have ceased functioning in Uganda as the country experiences a severe internet shutdown ahead of the elections.
This ongoing blackout follows a surge in demand for privacy tools, with Proton VPN reporting a staggering increase in sign-ups, peaking at 8,000 new users per hour on Tuesday.
David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, stated that internet connectivity dropped sharply on Wednesday, rendering VPNs ineffective.
"Uganda has followed the recent trend set by Iran and Afghanistan, where governments seeking to silence opposition have gone beyond website bans and VPN restrictions to completely unplugging the internet," Peterson explained.
Why VPNs Stopped Working in Uganda
On Tuesday, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) mandated internet service providers to suspend access to the internet. This has affected social media platforms, messaging apps, video streaming sites, and even satellite internet connections.
Initially, users managed to utilize VPN apps to bypass some restrictions. However, internet access has since become "almost completely unavailable," according to the latest Cloudflare Radar data.
Felicia Anthonio, Global Campaign Manager at Access Now, warned that this situation amounts to a complete internet blackout, rendering VPNs ineffective as they require some level of connectivity to operate, plunging millions into digital darkness.
What Can People in Uganda Do?
Currently, workarounds for Ugandans are extremely limited.
Anthonio cautioned that the shutdown is comprehensive in scale and impact, confirming that authorities have also blocked roaming services and satellite connections often used to bypass restrictions.
While there are reports of people using Bluetooth-based peer-to-peer mesh network apps like Bitchat to communicate without the internet, Anthonio argues these are "no substitute for open internet access."
The stakes for democracy are incredibly high. Anthonio stated, "Deliberately cutting the country off from the rest of the world just days before a highly anticipated election is a profound betrayal and a blatant disregard for democracy."
Without internet access, the incumbent gains an unfair advantage, opposition voices are silenced, voters are deprived of critical information, and journalists and election observers are unable to report and monitor effectively.
Anthonio urges citizens to document events and abuses offline whenever safe, ensuring that evidence can be shared once connectivity is restored.