After more than five years of restrictions, Ugandans are reporting that they can once again access Facebook without the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), sparking excitement and speculation that the government’s controversial blockade of the social media platform may have quietly come to an end.
Throughout Friday, social media users across the country shared screenshots and testimonies indicating that Facebook was loading normally on both mobile data and broadband internet connections. Many described the development as unexpected, noting that they had grown accustomed to relying on VPNs since the platform was blocked in January 2021.
The apparent restoration of access has generated widespread debate online, with some users celebrating what they view as a victory for digital freedom, while others questioned whether the move was temporary or part of a broader policy shift by the government.
Among those who highlighted the development was journalist Canary Mugume, who posted on X that Facebook had become accessible in Uganda without VPNs. His post quickly attracted hundreds of reactions from users who confirmed they were experiencing the same access across different internet service providers, including MTN and Airtel.
The restriction on Facebook was imposed shortly before the 2021 general elections after a dispute between the Ugandan government and Meta, Facebook’s parent company. President Yoweri Museveni defended the decision at the time, accusing the platform of interfering in Uganda’s politics after it removed accounts linked to government officials and supporters.
Since then, millions of Ugandans have continued to access the platform through VPN services, despite periodic government warnings against their use. The prolonged blockade made Uganda one of the few countries in the world to maintain such a lengthy restriction on a major social media platform.
As of Friday evening, neither the government, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), nor Meta had issued an official statement confirming that the ban had been lifted. However, the growing number of users reporting direct access suggests that a significant change may have occurred.
Whether the restoration is the result of a formal policy decision or a technical adjustment remains unclear. For now, many Ugandans are celebrating what could mark the end of one of the country’s most controversial digital restrictions.
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