Uganda’s Parliament announced on November 6th that it will hold upcoming sessions behind closed doors, with live coverage and mobile phones banned.
Members of Parliament have been ordered to leave their phones at the entrance, restricting communication with the outside world during these proceedings.
Parliamentary officials provided no further details on the rationale behind the closed-door sessions, leaving Ugandans in the dark as to the topics or decisions on the agenda.
The measure has raised eyebrows across the political landscape, with critics questioning the sudden emphasis on secrecy.
Civil rights advocates have expressed concern over the lack of transparency, particularly as critical national issues from the contentious Coffee Bill to pressing economic policies—are under discussion.
For now, Ugandans will have to rely solely on post-session summaries provided by parliamentary representatives.
However, the decision to block live access is likely to fuel further debate about government openness and accountability in a country where many are already wary of restricted information flow.
This heightened secrecy, officials say, will remain in effect until further notice.
