MTN, Airtel Restore Services in Uganda After Seven-Day Internet Shutdown
MTN and Airtel have restored mobile money services in Uganda, ending a seven-day disruption that followed an internet shutdown imposed ahead of the country’s general elections.
The restoration comes days after the Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC) ordered restrictions on internet access, including mobile money and social media platforms, citing public order concerns during the election period.
Mobile Money Services Back After Prolonged Disruption
Confirming the development, MTN Uganda informed customers in a message on Tuesday that mobile money operations had resumed.
“Kindly note that Mobile Money services have been restored. Please proceed with your transactions and share your feedback,” the operator said.
The restoration follows growing public frustration after citizens were unable to access funds for daily transactions, resulting in widespread financial distress across the country.
With services now back online, subscribers can once again deposit funds, make withdrawals, and carry out other mobile money transactions on both MTN and Airtel platforms.
Internet Access Partially Restored After Elections
Although the UCC announced on Sunday that public internet access had been restored nationwide, key services remained restricted even after the elections concluded and results were declared on Saturday.
In a public statement, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said only limited services were re-enabled.
According to him, restored access includes:
- Web browsing
- News websites
- Educational resources
- Government portals
- Financial services
However, social media platforms and over-the-top (OTT) messaging applications remain temporarily blocked.
“Social media platforms and messaging OTT applications remain temporarily restricted to continue safeguarding against misuse that could threaten public order,” Thembo said.
Confusion Over Authority Behind Mobile Money Ban
During the shutdown, there was confusion over which authority ordered the mobile money restrictions.
Initially, MTN stated that the directive came from the UCC. However, the operator later clarified that the restrictions were issued by the Bank of Uganda.
“The mobile money restrictions were issued by the Central Bank, not the UCC. We apologise for the earlier misinformation,” MTN said on Tuesday.
Compensation for Affected Data Subscribers
MTN also addressed customer complaints regarding expired data subscriptions during the shutdown period.
In responses to users on X, the operator said affected subscribers would receive compensation once an internal review is completed.
“Our technical team is currently analysing the data to determine the appropriate compensation for each affected customer. We expect this process to be completed within one week,” the company said.
Social Media Still Blocked Despite Service Restoration
While mobile money services are now fully operational, access to social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok remains officially restricted, according to the UCC.
The restrictions follow the re-election of Yoweri Museveni, who was declared the winner of Thursday’s election with 72% of the vote, defeating opposition candidate Bobi Wine, who secured 25%.
Museveni’s victory extends his rule by another five years, marking more than four decades in power.
