President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hinted at a possible lifting of Uganda’s five-year Facebook ban, revealing that his government is now reviewing conditions under which the social media giant could be reinstated.

Facebook was officially blocked in Uganda in early 2021, shortly before the general elections, after the platform took down several government-linked accounts. At the time, President Museveni accused Facebook of “arrogance” and interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs. While the ban remains in place, millions of Ugandans continue to access the platform through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

However, in a fresh shift, Museveni confirmed that discussions between Uganda and Meta Facebook’s parent company are underway to explore a structured return of the platform.

Speaking on the Unstoppable UG Podcast over the weekend, the President revealed that government is open to restoring access, but only under “new terms” that respect Uganda’s sovereignty.

“We shall study that (on reopening Facebook) because I had to teach them a lesson, because they thought that without Facebook Uganda would disappear. But Uganda is thriving. The cows are going home and coming back. We had to make it clear that they can’t stop us. We are unstoppable,” Museveni stated.

The remarks suggest a softer stance from the President, who has long insisted that Facebook must acknowledge Uganda’s concerns before operations can resume. Officials from the Ministry of ICT and the Uganda Media Centre have previously confirmed ongoing engagements with Meta, but without timelines.

If restored, Facebook’s return would mark a major shift in Uganda’s digital landscape, potentially easing communication for businesses, content creators, advertisers, and millions of users who rely on the platform.

For now, all eyes remain on the outcome of the government–Meta negotiations, a process that could redefine how global tech platforms operate within Uganda’s regulatory framework.