Uganda has entered a troubling new phase of state control as authorities move to place access to satellite internet under direct military oversight, following a directive that all Starlink internet equipment imported into the country must now receive written approval from the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni.
An internal memo issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority and dated December 19, 2025, instructs customs officers at all entry points to immediately stop the clearance of Starlink kits and related satellite communication devices unless importers present authorization personally approved by the army chief. The order takes effect immediately and applies nationwide, effectively handing control of a civilian internet technology to the military.
The decision has sparked outrage and deep concern among civil society groups, opposition figures, digital rights activists, and members of Uganda’s growing tech community, who see it as a clear attempt to tighten government grip on independent internet access ahead of the January 2026 general elections. For many, this move is not about regulation or security, but about power, surveillance, and political control.
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, offers fast satellite-based internet that bypasses traditional telecom infrastructure. Its growing popularity in Uganda has been driven by poor broadband services, high data costs, and the government’s long history of internet disruptions, social media shutdowns, and online censorship during elections and protests. By design, Starlink makes it harder for authorities to throttle access or monitor communications, a reality that has clearly unsettled those in power.
Although the URA directive gives no public explanation for the restriction, officials have described Starlink as a “sensitive communication technology.” Activists argue this justification is dangerously vague and deliberately broad, allowing the state to label any tool it cannot easily control as a security threat. They warn that forcing civilians and businesses to seek approval from the military before accessing the internet sets a frightening precedent in a country already accused of shrinking democratic space.
Many Ugandans view the directive as part of a wider pattern: the militarisation of civilian life and the steady erosion of freedoms under the guise of national security. Critics say it is especially alarming that such authority has been concentrated in the hands of the president’s son, raising serious questions about nepotism, accountability, and the abuse of power.
“This is not governance, this is intimidation,” one digital rights advocate in Kampala said. “When the army decides who can access the internet, freedom of expression is already under attack.”
The controversy is further compounded by the irony that President Museveni himself publicly welcomed Starlink representatives in April 2025, praising the technology as a solution for rural connectivity and economic development. Today, that same technology is being quietly locked behind military approval, exposing a glaring contradiction between official rhetoric and actual policy.
While the government insists that Starlink is not banned outright, activists argue that requiring personal clearance from the Chief of Defence Forces amounts to a de facto restriction that will limit access to the wealthy, the connected, and the politically favored, while ordinary citizens are left in the dark.
As of now, there has been no public explanation from Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Ministry of Defence, or the Presidency. Starlink and SpaceX have also remained silent. Meanwhile, anxiety continues to grow among Ugandans who fear that the internet, once a tool for connection and expression, is rapidly becoming another instrument of state control.
As the country approaches a tense election season, this latest move sends a clear and chilling signal: in Uganda, even access to the internet is no longer a right, but a privilege controlled by power.
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