Human Rights on the Line: Election Day, Internet Shutdowns, and Voter Turnout in Uganda

25 January 2026, 6:45 pm

By Kabali Paul

In this episode of THE PODCAST, Hope Bagota, Senior Human Rights Officer at the Uganda Human Rights Commission, discusses the Commission’s primary report on the state of human rights during the 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 the issue of low voter turnout, exploring how fear, restricted access to information, and logistical challenges affected public engagement in the electoral process. The episode offers critical insights into the human rights implications of election-day practices in Uganda.