US sends clear message to Museveni over continued Facebook shutdown

As the world marks Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the US, through its mission in Kampala, has asked President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni to respect Journalists’rights and fully reopen the internet, including Facebook which has remained blocked for months.

Museveni lifted the temporary suspension of other internet sites after the January 14 election, but social media platform Facebook remains shut after it removed accounts of staff at a unit at the information ministry.

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Now, in a message to government, the US Mission in Uganda called for the opening of the internet and respect of journalism as tools for accountability.

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“Vibrant, resilient democracies need independent journalists. Increasingly, independent journalists need the Internet to do their job and reach people with the information they need to hold their govts accountable,” noted the embassy in a WPFD message.

“Goveenments must allow Open Internet and Keep It On.”

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