Facebook restored in Uganda after several months

In Uganda, the authorities, who had blocked Facebook several months ago, have quietly reinstated the social network this Tuesday, without communicating the reasons for this new decision.

The Ugandan authorities have decided to restore access to Facebook this Tuesday, June 22, 2021, while they had blocked the social network, along with Twitter and other sites, during the election period last January. Today, at the time of reinstating these blocked media, no explanation of why this decision was taken has been given.

This total blackout, which saw the Internet cut and suspended social networks amid fierce opposition between the main opponent, MP Bobi Wine, and then outgoing President, Yoweri Museveni, had been reinstated four days after the ballot won by the leader who continues his reign.

This total blackout from the internet

While other networks and the internet were restored a few days after the vote, Facebook was not. At the time of its suspension, the authorities had indicated that “the Ugandan government will maintain its decision to block access to the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms until it deems that they can no longer be used to stir up tension”.

Facebook had thus been subject to the will of the Ugandan authorities, who had taken the option of reinstating the media on a case-by-case basis. Facebook’s previous decision to block the accounts of certain Ugandan government officials had undoubtedly played a role in the delay in restoring this social network in this East African country.

“We have decided to end the blocking of Facebook so that Ugandans can enjoy its services”. That’s all the Ugandan authorities have said in unblocking Facebook. The announcement was made by John Baptist Oyo, director of the Department of Information Technology and Communications.