Mobile money agent Mirembe Tracy laments that her business in Uganda's bustling capital Kampala was paralysed when the government shut the internet during last week's fiercely contested general election.

All withdrawals were disconnected, she tells the BBC, adding that she gets nearly all of her income from withdrawal commissions.

Without it, her income dropped to zero.

In one week I can earn up to 450,000 [Ugandan] shillings (£96; $130). That money is what I use to pay rent. Losing it was a total loss, she says.

For two days either side of the election, there was nothing she could do but stay at home - she could only sell prepaid airtime credit, which she says does not give a commission.

Uganda's communications authority ordered the nationwide shutdown to ensure peace, protect national stability and prevent the misuse of communication platforms during a sensitive national exercise.

The opposition said it was a move to cover up voter fraud and stop its agents from sharing the results from polling stations.

Either way, it brought many aspects of modern life to a halt.

Online businesses that rely on mobile money transactions were most affected by the blackout, with some coming to a standstill while others reverted to cash-based transactions.

Kampala is famous for its ubiquitous boda boda (motorcycle) taxis, with many operators earning their income through online ride-hailing apps.

The co-founder of SafeBoda told local media that the platform's entire server was down during the internet suspension, with many riders forced off the road and other businesses that depend on the service deprived of their income.

Namukwaya Olivia, who sells traditional cultural clothing and depends heavily on Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp to reach customers, says she did not make any deliveries during the period.

She tells the BBC that many of her customers ask for pictures before deciding on what to buy.

We could not send pictures, we could not receive orders, and we could not make deliveries, the businesswoman says.

She adds that the effect of the shutdown was immediate, and made it difficult to cover basic costs.

We couldn't pay rent during that period, she says. Even now, things have not fully recovered because customers still struggle to access us online.

Journalist Ngabo Amon says his smartphone, a work tool for him, became largely useless.

You have a phone, but there is nothing to do with it, he tells the BBC.

He could no longer research stories, follow election developments or send material to his newsroom.

The shutdown also cut journalists off from family during a time of heightened insecurity.

This blackout particularly hindered young people and students who found it difficult to cope without access to social media for communication and online education. Many reverted to more traditional forms of entertainment like television.

President Yoweri Museveni has been accused of sealing off communication channels to maintain control over the narrative surrounding his extended rule.

The internet shutdown has consequently shed light on vulnerabilities within Ugandan society and the growing dependence on digital platforms for economic survival and personal connection.

The aftermath of the blackout raises pressing questions regarding freedom of expression and the role of digital access in democratic processes.