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Peter Mwai
BBC Verify senior journalist, reporting from Nairobi, Kenya

Image source, Netblocks.org

Internet monitoring organisation Netblocks has confirmed major disruption to internet connectivity in Uganda ahead of general elections on Thursday.

Netblocks recorded a drop off of network connectivity on Tuesday evening to about 20%.

This coincides with an order by Uganda’s communications commission to internet service providers to suspend public access to the internet.

The commission has said is to “mitigate the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud” and prevent incitement of violence.

But Netblocks warns that “far from halting misinformation, the measure is likely to limit transparency and increase the risk of vote fraud”.

Restriction of the internet makes it challenging for people to post information, videos and images about events online, making it harder for journalists and election monitors to verify and report.

During Uganda’s last election in 2021, which saw widespread protests with dozens killed, the internet was cut for at least a week.

Thursday’s presidential election is a repeat of the 2021 contest between President Yoweri Museveni, seeking his seventh term of elected office, and former pop star Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi.