Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, has welcomed the government’s recent move to restrict social media, saying it highlighted the need for tighter control of digital platforms.
His remarks follow the nationwide internet shutdown that ran from January 13 to 18, a period during which access to social media and other online services was cut off across the country.
Addressing members of the National Management Committee on Tuesday, Mubaje said the temporary blackout reflected views he has long expressed about regulating online spaces, particularly during sensitive national moments such as elections.
In a light-hearted tone, the Mufti noted that the days without internet appeared to bring families closer together.
“I heard that during the shutdown, many families reconnected in a way we have not seen for a long time,” he said. “People sat together, ate together, and followed what was happening through television and radio.”
He observed that constant use of phones and other digital devices had slowly reduced face-to-face interaction within households.
“For years, people have been too busy with their gadgets,” Mubaje said, adding that the blackout served as a reminder of the importance of personal interaction.
