2. The blocking and shutting down of mobile money transfer services
during the general elections in February 2016 violated Articles 22
(1) and 45 of the Constitution of Uganda, which protects the right
to livelihood and life.
5
3. The blocking and shutting down of social media by the respondent
on 11th to 12th May 2016 during the inauguration of the PresidentElect violated Article 29 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Uganda which
guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression.
10
The petitioners sought the following declarations:
1. That the blocking and shutting down of social media, purportedly
done under the
authority of the Uganda
Communications
Commission Act, 2013, during the General Elections in February
2017 was unconstitutional.
15
2. That the blocking and shutting down of mobile money transfer
services purportedly done under the authority of the Uganda
Communications Act, 2013 was unconstitutional.
20
3. That the blocking and shutting down, during the presidential
inauguration in May 2016, of social media by the respondent
purportedly
done
under
the
authority
of
the
Uganda
Communications Act, 2013 was unconstitutional.
25
4. That the respondent pays the costs of the petition.
The petition was supported by the affidavit of Geoffrey Ssebagala
Wokulira, Executive Officer of the 1st petitioner sworn on the 24th of
April
2017
in
which
he
stated
that
during
the
Presidential,
Parliamentary and Local Government Council Elections in 2016, the
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respondent
ordered,
instructed
or
2
directed
telecommunication