By E K Benj

Updated at 22:45 GMT on Monday 18th January, 21

Following restoration of internet hours ago with Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Messenger and Instagram only accessed by virtue private network (VPN); Uganda government has now shut down YouTube.

YouTube wasn’t part of the restricted platforms and Ugandans immediately started uploading and watching videos many of whom attracted tens of thousands of views with political controversial messages throughout the day. HICGI News Agency can now reveal that Uganda government has moments ago also shut down this Google product.

Uganda Communications Commission – UCC in the concluded election campaigns won by incumbent Yoweri Kagauta Museveni, wrote to Google listing dozens of YouTube channels it wanted to pull down for violating minimum broadcasting standards but the US based tech giant simply ignored the government.

Supporters of Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, Museveni’s main challenger in the concluded elections have been using YouTube to criticise the Museveni government.

Google has not released any official statement on this suspension yet.