REFERENCE NO. 12 OF 2021 EAST AFRICAN LAW SOCIETY v. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA & THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

The Applicant alleges that the 1^st Respondent’s acts of blocking access to internet-based social media platforms and online messaging applications including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram and others, in addition to the online mobile application stores, Google Play Store and App Store and further ordering the blocking of access to over 100 Virtual Private Networks (VPN) barring any attempts to circumvent its aforementioned internet censorship were in breach of Articles 6(d), 7(2) and 8(1)(c) of the EAC Treaty.

The Applicant also alleges that the 2^nd Respondent’s failure to investigate and submit its findings to the Republic of Uganda in the context of the restrictions was an abdication of its duty under Article 29 of the Treaty