The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has dismissed a document circulating on social media of an alleged planned shutdown of the internet and mobile money services during the upcoming general elections as fake and not issued by the Commission.
The document, dated Jan. 2, 2026 bearing the commissions logo claiming that that all mobile money and Airtel Money services would be switched off nationwide starting Jan. 8 and advising the public to withdraw bank funds early has been circulating on social media.
However in a public advisory released on Saturday through it’s verified X account, the commission has since urged the public to disregard the notice as fake.
“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” the statement read.
The commission further urged the public to ignore the fake notice and consult only official UCC channels for accurate updates.
The fake notice had prompted concerns among the public and the business community, as many people across the country rely on mobile money for daily transactions.
This clarification comes as the government works to ensure stability in communication and financial services leading up to the 2026 polls.
