East African Law Society sue Uganda for shutting down the Internet during polls

According to a news report, the East Africa Law Society (EALS), a professional regional law body based in Uganda have sued the Ugandan government by filing a petition at an Arusha based regional court challenging the shutdown of the internet during the general elections held in Uganda on 14 January 2021. EALS, according to the report, accused the Ugandan government of restricting access to social media and more than 100 Private Virtual Networks (VPN) before imposing  a total internet shutdown, an action which according to the regional law bar constitutes an infringement against the rule of law, good governance and human rights. The petition specifically is seeking a declaration that the government’s action violated the constitution and an order compelling the Ugandan government to put in place legal reforms to prevent the recurrence of such an event.