Uganda's internet was shut down around the recent general election. This move froze mobile money services and hit many businesses hard. Mirembe Tracy, a mobile money agent in Kampala, said, "All withdrawals were disconnected," causing her income to drop to zero. She earned up to 450,000 Ugandan shillings (£96; $130) weekly from commissions and used it to pay rent. The government said the shutdown was to "ensure peace, protect national stability and prevent the misuse of communication platforms." The opposition claimed it was to hide voter fraud and block election reporting. Many businesses that rely on online transactions, like ride-hailing apps and cultural clothing sellers, stopped working. SafeBoda's co-founder said the platform went completely offline, forcing riders off the road. Namukwaya Olivia, using Instagram and TikTok for sales, said, "We could not send pictures, we could not receive orders, and we could not make deliveries." Journalists were also hit hard. Ngabo Amon said, "You have a phone, but there is nothing to do with it." He couldn’t report or follow election updates properly. Many people spent time watching old movies or just waited for the internet to return. Young people, like 20-year-old gamer Ronnie Mwesigwa, lost contact with friends and online entertainment. "It was not a good situation," he said. The African Union election mission noted that the shutdown "limited access to information, freedom of association [and] curtailed economic activities." It also caused "suspicion and mistrust" around the elections. Some journalists had to physically carry videos from rural areas to cities to report news, causing delays. Caroline Mutai, a journalist from Kenya, said the blackout "almost gave me depression" as she struggled to send materials and reach her family. Students faced interrupted learning too. Aaron Benitez said teachers could not share notes or hold online classes. "Everything just stopped," he said. Even after the election, internet access remained slow and limited. President Yoweri Museveni won the vote by a large margin, while his rival Bobi Wine called the results "fake". The government partially restored the internet after announcing the results, but some platforms stayed restricted. Many young people use VPNs to access blocked sites. This shutdown was more than a temporary problem. It showed how deeply internet access is tied to daily life in Uganda.