TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 1978.consprcy@1:2320/105 2dce39e8   
   PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   BBSID: CAPCITY2   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   FORMAT: flowed   
   VPN interest spikes in Uganda as the internet gets disrupted ahead of the   
   general elections   
      
   Date:   
   Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:50:22 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   Despite the blocked access to the public internet, people in Uganda seem to    
   be using VPNs to stay connected. Proton VPN confirmed a 8,000% increase in   
   signups on Tuesday, and usage keeps rising.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   An interest in VPN apps has quickly spiked among Uganda's citizens as   
   authorities ordered an internet shutdown on Tuesday (January 13), two days   
   ahead of the country's presidential elections.    
      
   As per the latest Google Trends data , searches for the term 'VPN' began   
   rising immediately after the internet shutdown was enforced, and continue to   
   rise at the time of writing.    
      
    Proton VPN confirmed an 8,000% increase in signups from Uganda between 2 pm   
   and 3 pm GMT on Tuesday alone. "We had already seen two prior spikes in recent   
   weeks, as locals prepared for a predicted Internet blackout," added David   
   Peterson, Proton VPN's General Manager, in a tweet .   
      
   This comes despite the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordering a   
   temporary suspension of public internet access. While essential services like   
   online banking and government administrative portals are excluded from the   
   block, impacted services include social media apps, video streaming    
   platforms, and messaging apps. Satellite internet services like Starlink are   
   aslo blocked.    
      
   As per the order, only authorized personnel are allowed to use a virtual   
   private network (VPN) to access suspended services. Restrictions will remain   
   in force until the UCC issues a restoration notice.    
      
   Earlier this month, the UCC dismissed the rumors of a potential internet   
   shutdown, while warning individuals looking to use VPNs to circumvent the ban   
   on Facebook that they are not " immune to legal action ."   
      
   Are VPN working in Uganda?   
      
   As we are seeing with the ongoing Iranian digital blackout , not even the    
   best VPN apps can help people get back online during a total internet   
   shutdown. That's because VPNs and similar circumventing tools need a   
   functioning internet connection to work.    
      
   The situation in Uganda, however, appears to be different. According to    
   social media reports , some people in the country have managed to evade   
   restrictions by connecting to VPNs.    
      
   Another tweet shows VPN apps are among the most downloaded apps in Uganda's   
   official app stores right now, alongside mesh messaging using Bluetooth   
   connections instead, such as Bitchat.    
      
   This may be bound to the fact that Uganda's internet connectivity levels were   
   still around 20% on Wednesday morning, according to NetBlocks data . For   
   comparison, in Iran, connectivity levels have been near zero since January 8,   
   making a VPN impossible to use since the beginning.   
      
   However, the situation in Uganda could further develop in the next few hours.    
      
   Why has Uganda suspended internet access?   
      
   The UCC said that the internet shutdown is a necessary measure "to mitigate   
   the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud    
   and related risks, as well as preventing of incitment of violence that could   
   affect public confidence and national security during the election period."    
      
   Digital rights experts, however, have long warned that access to the internet   
   is crucial to guarantee free access to information and freedom of expression   
   during such a delicate period. "These rights are essential to inclusive   
   participation, and a cornerstone of free, fair and credible elections," wrote   
   Access Now .    
      
   Uganda has a long history of cutting the internet, especially during   
   elections. Authorities did so during the highly contested elections of 2021,   
   with restrictions lasting one week. In that instance, authorities even cut   
   access to more than 100 VPN apps, said Access Now.    
      
   The Committee to Protect Journalists has already reported on Ugandan   
   journalists being assaulted for covering the lead-up to the crucial   
   presidential elections. This election will see, for the second time,   
   opposition leader Bobi Wine, a singer-turned-politician, battling against the   
   almost 40-year-long President, Yoweri Museveni.    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/vpn-interest-spikes-in-ugan   
   da-as-the-internet-gets-disrupted-ahead-of-the-general-elections   
      
   $$   
   --- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux   
    * Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)   
   SEEN-BY: 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700   
   SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 134 206 300 307 317 400 426 428 470   
   SEEN-BY: 229/664 700 705 266/512 291/111 320/219 322/757 342/200 396/45   
   SEEN-BY: 460/58 633/280 712/848 902/26 2320/0 105 304 3634/12 5075/35   
   PATH: 2320/105 229/426