The Ugandan government shut down internet services and mobile money transfer in the country Thursday, citing security concerns, as registered voters cast their ballots in the ongoing presidential and parliamentary elections.
Godfrey Mutabazi, the head of Uganda Communications Commission, confirmed to local television station NTV Uganda that it had temporarily blocked social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp, following complaints from the country’s electoral commission that the platforms were being used to bribe voters and to campaign past Tuesday’s campaigning deadline.
Meanwhile, Ugandans spoke of fears of violence as many have taken to social media to vent their frustration after Facebook,Twitter and WhatsApp's shut down using Virtual Private Servers or Proxies.