Big StoryNews

Facebook Remains Blocked Despite Gov’t Lifting Ban On Social Media

1 Mins read
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg / AFP PHOTO / Josh Edelson

The Ugandan government has announced the full restoration of internet and social media services apart from access to Facebook.

“We apologise for the inconveniences caused, but it was for the security of our country,” Peter Ogwang, State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, tweeted.

He added: “Let’s be constructive, not destructive consumers/users of social media.”

The services were severely restricted on the eve of 14 January election.

President Yoweri Museveni at the time accused Facebook of being arrogant and biased after the social media platform removed accounts linked to the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM).

On Wednesday the tech platform again announced it had removed a new batch of more than 200 accounts linked to NRM.

The company alleged that the accounts were seeking to spread misinformation and to manipulate public debate ahead of the highly contested January poll.

Facebook said the accounts based in Uganda,targeted domestic audiences and relied on fake and duplicate accounts in order to make posts appear more popular than they actually were.

The head of Facebook’s Global Threat Disruption, David Agranovich, said their investigation found evidence linking fake accounts directly to Uganda’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology.

A further 139 Instagram accounts were also removed.

The accounts mostly shared content in support of President Museveni and NRM.

His closest challenger in the polls was musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine who was four years old when Mr Museveni seized power in 1986 after waging a guerrilla war.

Mr Museveni secured a sixth term in the election but Bobi Wine is challenging the results in court alleging that there was widespread fraud.

BBC

Related posts
News

Uganda Partners with Hollywood to Showcase Its Story Through Landmark Docuseries

1 Mins read
Kampala, Uganda – Uganda is set to take center stage on the global entertainment map as the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports…
Big Story

Besigye Ends Hunger Strike After Court Appearance

2 Mins read
Veteran opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye has ended his hunger strike after being formally charged with treason at the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s…
Big Story

Besigye Remanded Over Treason Charges

1 Mins read
Dr. Kizza Besigye, along with co-accused Lutale and Captain Oola, has been remanded to Luzira Prison after appearing before Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s…