MTN contributes Shs 54bn towards Uganda’s digital inclusion

MTN Uganda has contributed Shs 54.27 billion to the Uganda Communications Commission’s Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF).

Established in 2001 as the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF), UCUSAF supports connectivity, affordability and equitable access to ICT services, particularly in rural and underserved communities and accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda

Under Uganda’s telecommunications regulatory framework, operators are required to contribute two per cent of their annual gross revenue to the fund, which is administered by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

MTN Uganda chief executive officer Sylvia Mulinge said the contribution represents more than regulatory compliance, reflecting the company’s commitment to ensuring that all Ugandans can participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

The company’s annual contribution has steadily increased from Shs 36 billion in 2023 to Shs 42.5 billion in 2024, Shs 50.55 billion in 2025, and Shs 54.27 billion this year.

“These contributions reflect our belief that every Ugandan, regardless of where they live or what they earn, deserves the benefits of a modern connected life because in today’s world, connection is opportunity,” Mulinge said.

She noted that while Uganda has made significant progress in expanding digital access, considerable gaps remain. With more than 20 million smartphones connected in a country of over 45 million people, she said millions of Ugandans are still excluded from the digital economy.

Mulinge said the company’s efforts complement government’s priorities under the 2026/27 national budget, which emphasises expanding digital infrastructure to improve internet coverage, reliability and affordability, while supporting e-government services and e-commerce.

She observed that digital connectivity has become essential for access to education, healthcare, financial services, employment and trade. Through its Ambition 2030 strategy and the MTN Foundation, the company is investing in digital skills, infrastructure and innovation ecosystems to expand meaningful participation in the digital economy.

According to Mulinge, MTN Uganda has invested more than Shs 4 billion in its MTN ACE programme over the past three years and plans to invest an additional Shs 4 billion over the next three years.

The initiative supports innovation hubs and universities in Nakawa, Busitema, Soroti, Kabale and Gulu to ensure digital opportunities are spread beyond Kampala.

The company says its broader digital inclusion investments include establishing nearly 70 ICT and computer laboratories in schools, training more than 6,000 Ugandans through the MTN Internet Bus initiative since 2022, and supporting innovators at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa to develop practical solutions such as KaCyber and RideLink.

Together, these initiatives are expected to benefit more than 20,000 students and community members while strengthening Uganda’s digital innovation ecosystem.

Mulinge said the next phase of Uganda’s digital transformation should focus on improving smartphone affordability, particularly for low-income and underserved communities. She noted that the current 10 per cent import duty and 18 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on smartphones continue to place the devices beyond the reach of many households.

“Government has rightly prioritised digital transformation, and Uganda has made meaningful progress. The next frontier of inclusion is access. We need to unlock smartphone affordability because that is the gateway through which millions of Ugandans connect to learning, enterprise, financial services and opportunity,” she said.

UCC executive director George William Nyombi Thembo commended MTN Uganda for its consistent contributions to the Universal Service and Access Fund.

“While this contribution is a regulatory obligation for MTN, it represents much more than compliance. It reflects MTN’s continued commitment to the growth of Uganda’s ICT sector. As UCC, we remain committed to working closely with MTN and other industry players to advance ICT development and achieve a fully connected Uganda by 2030,” Thembo said.

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