Ugandans Jubilate As Internet Is Restored After Elections

Ugandans are celebrating the resumption of internet services after a shutdown was imposed ahead of last week’s controversial elections. 

However, reports say social media platforms remain blocked and are only accessible using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

President Yoweri Museveni, who won an unprecedented sixth term in office, had accused the platforms of being biased.

Bobi Wine, the presidential candidate for the opposition National Unity Platform, alleged the poll was marred by fraud.

The party’s spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi accused Mr. Museveni of shutting down the internet to prevent them from sharing evidence of fraud.

Read Also: Uganda Police Hunt 200 Escaped Inmates After Jailbreak

He told the BBC’s Newsday programme that the party was in the process of collecting election results forms that have evidence of irregularities.

Mr. Ssenyonyi told the Reuters news agency that NUP’s offices had been raided.

‘They don’t want work to continue at our offices because they know that we are putting together evidence to show the world how much of a fraudster Museveni is,’ he said.

President Museveni while speaking said on Saturday stated that the poll could be the ‘most cheating-free‘ in the history of the country.

The electoral commission declared Mr Museveni the winner with 59% of the vote, with his closest challenger Bobi Wine, a pop star whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, garnering 34%.

Mr. Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986.

His party is also on course to secure an overwhelming majority in the 500-member parliament.