Human rights at stake: Internet shutdowns and voter turnout in Uganda

25 January 2026, 6:45 pm

By Kabali Paul

In this episode ofTHE PODCAST, Hope Bagota, Senior Human Rights Officer at the Uganda Human Rights Commission, discusses the Commission’s main report on the state of human rights during presidential and parliamentary election polling day. She highlights key observations from the field, with particular focus on the government-imposed internet shutdown and its negative impact on electoral transparency, communication, and citizen participation. The conversation also examines low voter turnout, exploring how fear, restricted access to information, and logistical challenges affected public engagement in the electoral process. The episode provides critical insights into the human rights implications of election-day practices in Uganda.