Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has directly appealed to billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, urging him to intervene after Starlink internet services were shut down in Uganda just days before the country’s January 15 general election.
In a statement shared on social media, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader accused the Ugandan government of using the disruption to stifle communication and limit democratic participation as voters prepare to head to the polls.
“Here in Uganda your Starlink has disabled citizens’ access to its internet just days to the January 15th election in which we seek to peacefully end Museveni’s 40-year-old dictatorship. Democracy dies in darkness,” Bobi Wine said, addressing Musk.
Bobi Wine alleged that President Yoweri Museveni’s government has a long history of suppressing free expression, persecuting the opposition, and violating citizens’ rights, arguing that the internet shutdown further disadvantages government critics at a critical political moment. He called on Musk to ensure Starlink services are restored so Ugandans can communicate freely and participate fairly in shaping their future.
Starlink earlier stated that the suspension of its services in Uganda was a response to regulatory action by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). In a letter dated January 2, 2026, the company said it had implemented a service restriction tool on January 1, effectively disabling all Starlink terminals operating in Uganda.
The letter, signed by Starlink Market Access Director Ben MacWilliams, explained that Starlink Uganda is not yet licensed by the UCC and has not been marketing satellite internet services in the country. The company said that individuals using Starlink in Uganda had purchased and activated terminals in countries where the service is authorised before illegally importing them into Uganda.
Starlink stressed that any use of its services in Uganda prior to January 1 was unauthorized and violated its terms of service. The company added that it is cooperating with Ugandan authorities and completing licensing requirements, expressing hope to resume operations once regulatory approval is granted.
The internet disruption has become a new flashpoint in Uganda’s highly charged pre-election environment, with opposition figures warning that restrictions on communication risk undermining transparency and public participation during the electoral process.
