- Interest in VPNs skyrocketed in Uganda after public internet was suspended
- Proton VPN confirmed an 8000% increase in signups on Tuesday
- Uganda imposes restrictions two days before presidential elections
Interest in VPN apps has increased rapidly among Ugandan citizens as authorities ordered an internet shutdown on Tuesday (January 13), two days before the country’s presidential election.
According to the latest data from Google Trends, searches for the term “VPN” began to increase immediately after the internet shutdown was imposed and continue to increase as of this writing.
Between 2pm and 3pm GMT, we saw a +8000% increase in @ProtonVPN registration in Uganda 🇺🇬 as the government ordered the suspension of public internet access ahead of Thursday’s elections. We had already seen two previous spikes in recent weeks, as locals prepared for a planned internet blackout: pic.twitter.com/rvvz58jBYxJanuary 13, 2026
This comes despite the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordering a temporary suspension of public Internet access. While essential services such as online banking and government administrative portals are excluded from the block, affected services include social media apps, video streaming platforms and messaging apps. Satellite internet services like Starlink are also blocked.
According to the order, only authorized personnel can use a virtual private network (VPN) to access the suspended services. The restrictions will remain in effect until the UCC issues a restoration notice.
Earlier this month, the UCC dismissed rumors of a possible internet shutdown, while warning people looking to use VPNs to circumvent Facebook’s ban that they are not “immune from legal action.”
Do VPNs work in Uganda?
As we are seeing with the current Iranian digital blackout, not even the best VPN apps can help people get back online during a complete internet shutdown. This is because VPNs and similar circumvention tools need a working internet connection to function.
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 that VPN apps are among the most downloaded apps on Uganda’s official app stores right now, along with mesh messaging that uses Bluetooth connections, such as Bitchat.
This may be due to the fact that Uganda’s internet connectivity levels were still around 20% as of Wednesday morning, according to NetBlocks data. For comparison, in Iran, connectivity levels have been close to zero since January 8, making it impossible to use a VPN in the first place.
ICYMI: #Uganda is currently in the midst of a widespread internet shutdown as telecoms regulator UCC imposes a blackout ahead of tomorrow’s general election. Far from stopping disinformation, the measure is likely to limit transparency and increase the risk of electoral fraud 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/teqeWITnqAJanuary 14, 2026
However, the situation in Uganda could evolve further in the coming hours.
We have approached Proton and digital rights experts in the country to find out how the situation is developing and what people can do to overcome the restrictions. We will update the page with the latest information as soon as we hear back.
Why did Uganda suspend Internet access?
The UCC said the internet shutdown is a necessary measure “to mitigate the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks online, as well as to prevent incitement to violence that could affect public trust and national security during the electoral period.”
However, digital rights experts have long warned that Internet access is crucial to ensuring free access to information and freedom of expression during such a sensitive period. “These rights are essential for inclusive participation and a cornerstone of free, fair and credible elections,” he wrote. Access now.
Uganda has a long history of internet shutdowns, especially during elections. Authorities did so during the hotly contested 2021 election, with restrictions lasting a week. In that case, authorities even cut off access to more than 100 VPN apps, Access Now said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has already reported attacks on Ugandan journalists for covering the run-up to the crucial presidential election. In these elections, for the second time, opposition leader Bobi Wine, a singer-turned-politician, will fight against the almost 40-year-old president, Yoweri Museveni.
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