Austin Bryan

So the tactic is: deny, confuse, and delay. Make people stop preparing for an internet blackout so it’s more effective when it inevitably happens, as it has repeatedly in the past decade.

A Ugandan government spokesperson is posting while their government has shut down the internet across the entire country. Claiming the country is “safe and open for business” during an internet blackout is ironic.

Uganda is still seeking new IMF financing to manage its debt. Negotiations on a new IMF credit program are expected to continue after elections. dw.com/en/ugandas-deb…

"Those detained including Sarah Bireete, a prominent lawyer and human rights activist, who was arrested at home in Kampala on 30 December. ... Her arrest marks a new level of repression." rfi.fr/en/africa/2026…

One way to misread the America First Global Health Strategy is to take Secretary Marco Rubio at his word and treat it as a radical ideological break. austinbryanphd.substack.com/p/rubios-ameri…

Museveni: “We closed Facebook 5 years ago after some people were misusing it. If they behave well, it will be reopened.”

I go through ~50 airports a year but I’ve never seen this

This narrative is tired, misleading, and harmful. Exploiting fear for political gain does not protect values—it puts vulnerable minority communities at risk. Redefining leadership as the rejection of others is a false and exhausted narrative. True values protect human dignity, especially for those most at risk.

EXCLUSIVE: Bobi Wine tells CNN the upcoming election is a war against him as security services have unleashed violence on him and his supporters. We got teargassed while covering one of his rallies. "General Museveni sees Uganda as his personal property and us as his slaves"

"...as well as provide support for faith-based health care providers and for health care services to the Ugandan military..." 🤔 state.gov/releases/offic…

Hit in the face with a cane by 'Uganda security forces' as they approached a campaign venue in Gulu. Other supporters were also beaten and hospitalised. reuters.com/world/africa/u…

Useful theafricareport.com/400877/uganda-…

Today, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk deplored the intensifying crackdown on the opposition and the media in Uganda ahead of next month’s general election ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

Ahead of 2026 elections: 60% of Ugandans say they personally fear becoming a victim of political intimidation or violence during election campaigns afrobarometer.org/publication/ad…

A “transit hub” in Uganda where people would be deported will open as early as next year? ft.com/content/e999e0…

He admits to putting them in "the fridge", meaning extra-judicial or non-transparent detention outside normal the legal processes and held without formal charge or trial for an extended time bbc.com/news/articles/…

In the 2018/19 shutdown, 14,000+ air traffic controllers worked without pay for 35 days! NATCA, their union, warned about extreme safety risks as training halted and sick calls led to major delays, all pressure that helped force Trump & Republicans to finally end the standoff.

Air traffic controllers are deemed “essential” fed. employees to keep us safe, but during a govt. shutdown, they’re literally forced to work without pay. Their livelihoods become bargaining chips while public safety hangs in the balance.

The last U.S. gov shutdown (Dec 22, 2018-Jan 25, 2019) lasted 35 days & was the longest in history. It happened under the Trump administration, after he demanded border wall funding.

HUD.gov on Sept. 30, 2025