Facebook was once a leading platform for communication, business, and advertising in Uganda, but it was suspended during the 2021 elections. Since then, more than a million Ugandans have continued to access it using VPNs, while online businesses and advertisers have been calling for its reopening, saying that its closure has harmed their operations.

In a recent media interview over the weekend, President Museveni said the government will carefully examine the matter of reopening Facebook, but new regulations will be put in place.

He said: “We will study it carefully. I wanted to teach them a lesson because they thought Uganda could not exist without Facebook. But Uganda continues to progress. We wanted to show that they cannot dictate to us.”

President Museveni added that Facebook has at times operated in ways that interfered with government policies, and that it will only be allowed to operate again under a new understanding and clear rules that prioritize the country’s interests.