Uganda Debunks Fake Election Service Shutdown Notice

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has officially dismissed a viral social media notice claiming that mobile money services and bank withdrawals would be restricted ahead of the 2026 General Elections.

The counterfeit notice, which began circulating on Saturday morning, January 3, 2026, falsely bore UCC branding and urged citizens to “withdraw all savings” before a supposed election-related digital blackout. It claimed that both mobile money platforms and internet gateways would be deactivated next week to “preserve national security.”

Official Response

In a statement posted on its verified social media channels, the UCC urged the public to ignore the fake notice.

” The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) alerts the public that a circulating notice is fake and not issued by the Commission. UCC only distributes official updates via verified channels.”

It added: “The public should ignore the fake notice and consult only official UCC channels for accurate updates.”

The incident comes as the Electoral Commission (EC) and security agencies intensify efforts to combat election-related disinformation.

On December 31, 2025, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence and social media could undermine the integrity of the polls.