KAMPALA, Uganda – The Ugandan government has lifted the long-standing ban on Facebook, ending more than five years of restricted access to one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.
The development has been welcomed by many Ugandans, particularly young people, businesses, digital marketers, and content creators who have relied on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access the platform since it was blocked in 2021.
The restoration of Facebook access was announced by Uganda’s Minister for Local Government, Dr. Balaam Barugahara, through a post on his X account on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
In his message, Dr. Barugahara credited the decision to the Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, writing: “Thank you Principal for unfreezing Facebook.”
The minister also urged Ugandans to use the platform responsibly, emphasizing the need to avoid misinformation, abusive content, and posts that could undermine national security, public order, or the country’s economic interests.
“Let us use social media to promote our goods and services, foster constructive engagement, and mobilize communities for national development, not for demobilization,” he said.
Facebook was blocked in Uganda in January 2021, just days before the country’s general elections. The restriction was announced on January 12 and took effect nationwide on January 13, 2021.
The move followed a dispute between the Ugandan government and Meta, Facebook’s parent company, after the platform removed a network of accounts linked to the Ministry of Information. Meta said the accounts were involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior and efforts to influence public debate.
On the eve of the January 14, 2021 elections, internet access across Uganda was temporarily shut down before being partially restored. While access to other social media platforms resumed over time, Facebook remained inaccessible without VPN services.
For more than five years, the ban became one of the most discussed digital policy issues in Uganda, with critics arguing that it limited communication, online business opportunities, and access to information.
The reopening of Facebook is expected to provide a significant boost to Uganda’s digital economy by enabling businesses, entrepreneurs, influencers, and organizations to reconnect with audiences on one of the country’s most widely used online platforms.
The decision marks a major shift in Uganda’s digital landscape and signals the end of one of the longest-running social media restrictions in the region.
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