Semujju on why Museveni cannot shut down internet

The “March to Parliament” protests, having been coordinated mostly on social media platforms, had been feared to drive the government to limit social media access.

Some predicted a full-blown internet shutdown in the days leading to the July 22 protest.

The government has on several occasions limited internet access during volatile political seasons in the past.

In the last general elections in 2021, the internet was shut down two days before the polls, and restored days later.

Social media platform Facebook was also banned in the country to this date.

Never again

However, Kira Municipality Member of Parliament doesn't see the government under President Museveni shutting down the internet ever again.

The legislator says Museveni needs social media access more than ever.

“Back then he could, but today, he needs it for his survival,” Nganda said in a televised interview.

See: MPs invite protestors to Parliament next week

“State House employs over 100 people in the ICT department for this very reason. The President realises that political campaigns and public engagement is no longer what it used to be.”

Instead of limiting the internet and social media, Nganda says the state has leant to deploy its own agents to disrupt online anti-government campaigns and trends through trolling and spreading misinformation.