Facebook Shuts Down Ugandan Accounts

Facebook shut down on Monday, several accounts of a network in Uganda linked to the country’s Ministry of Information. As well as, social media company accused the network of using fake accounts to promote the ruling party and the president, according to AFP.

On other hand, Facebook reported that the operation was linked to the Government Citizen Interaction Centre at Uganda’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. Duncan Abigaba, a manager at the center was among the first government officials to cry foul about Facebook’s move.

Abigaba explained that the accounts were targeted because of their support for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement or NRM.

Moreover, Facebook accuses the account holders of using fake and duplicate accounts to manage pages, comment on other people’s content, impersonate users and re-share posts in groups to make them appear more popular than they were.

Noteworthy, the East African nation is holding presidential and parliamentary elections after a tense and bloody campaign, with incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, 76, facing a stiff challenge from the popstar-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 38.

Also, Ugandans have harbored fears of internet related restrictions since the controversial 2016 general elections when the state restricted access to social media causing an information blackout during the process. Later, government introduced a controversial social media tax.

In addition, the government is already disabling some social media platforms. Currently, unless one is using a virtual private network, videos on Facebook cannot be played.