Uganda, located in East Africa, is a landlocked country with varied terrain including mountains, savannahs, lakes and dense forests. The population is primarily rural, with only 23% living in urban areas, and is unevenly distributed, with the highest concentration in the south. Uganda's telecommunications infrastructure is still developing, with a focus on the capital, Kampala, and other major urban centres. Internet access remains low at 25%, highlighting the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Unique telecommunications solutions have emerged, such as mobile money, which has become a popular method of transaction due to the country's underdeveloped banking sector. The technology sector is nascent but growing, with several tech start-ups appearing in recent years. Uganda's renewable energy sector is also in a developing state, with solar and hydropower being the primary sources, but the electrification rate remains low, particularly in rural areas.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 5 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Africell Uganda is a subsidiary of Africell Group, a mobile technology company providing voice, messaging, data, mobile money and other integrated telecoms services. Africell was founded in 2001 by US entrepreneur Ziad Dalloul and is US-owned. The company, headquartered in London, has a presence in several African countries, including The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.
Africell entered the Ugandan market in 2014, after acquiring Orange Uganda. The company served approximately 1.1 million active subscribers with 3G and 4G services until October 2021, when it...
Airtel Uganda Limited is a telecommunications and information technology services provider operating in Uganda. The company, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa PLC, offers a range of services including 2G, 3G and 4G wireless voice, data services and mobile commerce through its Airtel Money platform. The company was established in Uganda on June 8, 2010, following Bharti Airtel's acquisition of 16 Zain Africa operations.
In 2013, Airtel Uganda further consolidated its market presence through the full acquisition of Warid Telecom Uganda, marking the first in-country acquisition in the...
MTN Uganda is a leading telecommunications company in Uganda, established as a subsidiary of the multinational MTN Group. The company has been operational since the late 90s, providing a range of telecom services to millions of subscribers in Uganda. The parent company, MTN Group, is a prominent telecommunications conglomerate, with a presence in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East.
In Uganda, MTN has played a key role in the mobile telecommunications sector, commanding a significant market share. The company has introduced various innovative products, including mobile money...
Smart Uganda is a telecommunications network company that was established in Uganda in March 2014. The company is owned and operated by Industrial Promotion Services, which is a subsidiary of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. Despite its later expansions into Burundi and Tanzania, the company's origin and primary operations remain in Uganda. As of August 2021, the company has ceased its operations, attributing the closure to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Smile Uganda is a telecommunications company providing services in Uganda. Established in 2009, the company forms part of the Smile Telecoms Holdings group, which was founded by Irene Charnley and Mohammed Wajih Sharbatly. The ownership of Smile Uganda is shared between its parent company, Smile Telecoms Holdings, and the PIC (Public Investment Corporation), a South African state-owned entity that holds a significant stake. Smile Telecoms Holdings, the parent company, is based in Mauritius and operates in several African countries. However, its Ugandan subsidiary, Smile Uganda, operates...