The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has dismissed as false a notice circulating online that claimed essential services would be shut down ahead of the 2026 general elections.
In an urgent public advisory issued on January 3, 2026, UCC clarified that the document dated January 2 was a hoax and was not issued by the Commission. The fake notice alleged that bank withdrawals, mobile money services, and internet access would be suspended starting January 8, about a week before voting.
UCC Executive Director, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, described the notice as deliberate deception meant to mislead the public and cause unnecessary panic. He urged Ugandans to rely only on official and verified communication channels for accurate information.
“UCC only distributes official updates through its verified platforms,” the Commission stated, adding that the public should ignore the fake notice and consult the UCC website and official social media accounts for correct updates.
Veteran journalist Sudhir Byaruhanga welcomed the clarification, noting that the fake notice could have caused serious disruption if it had not been quickly addressed. He revealed that at least one person rushed to withdraw their savings after seeing the false information before learning the truth.
As Uganda moves closer to the early 2026 elections, officials have emphasized the importance of verifying information before acting on it, especially content shared on social media and messaging platforms.
UCC called on the public to remain calm and vigilant, and to follow updates only from trusted and official sources, including @UCC_ED, @ConsumerUCC, @MoICT_Ug, @IBbossa, and @UgCERT.
