MTN Uganda remits $1.2 million to boost digital access

MTN Uganda, the Kampala-based telecom operator partly led by Kenyan-born executive Sylvia Mulinge,  has remitted Ush54.27 billion ($1.17 million) to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) as its statutory contribution to the Universal Service and Access Fund, reinforcing its commitment to expanding digital connectivity and inclusion across the country.

The payment, made in line with the Uganda Communications Act, represents 2% of the telecom operator’s annual gross revenue. Half of the contribution is transferred to the Consolidated Fund. At the same time, the remainder supports the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), which finances connectivity projects in underserved and unserved communities.

MTN Uganda funds digital inclusion projects
Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Uganda, said the focus is shifting from access to meaningful digital participation. “Our challenge is no longer whether Uganda is connected. It is whether more Ugandans can fully participate in the opportunities the digital economy creates,” she said.

Mulinge noted that digital tools are now essential to economic and social advancement, emphasizing the need to improve the affordability of smartphones and internet services, particularly in rural and low-income communities.

UCC Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo commended MTN Uganda for consistently meeting its obligations, describing the contribution as a shared investment in Uganda’s future. He added that the fund will support ICT skills development and expand communications infrastructure to commercially unviable areas.

Established to bridge connectivity gaps, the Universal Service and Access Fund finances projects to improve digital literacy and extend communications services nationwide. MTN Uganda’s contribution is expected to accelerate efforts to close the digital divide and deepen participation in Uganda’s growing digital economy.

Leadership and market standing

The Kampala-based telecom giant, a key subsidiary of MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom operator, serves 24.4 million subscribers and maintains an unrivalled presence in the Ugandan market.

As of March 2026, MTN Uganda’s total assets expanded by 5.82% to Ush5.67 trillion ($1.51 billion) from Ush5.36 trillion ($1.42 billion) at the end of 2025, while retained earnings declined marginally by 0.89% to Ush1.19 trillion ($317.2 million) from Ush1.2 trillion ($320.05 million).

Since its landmark 2021 IPO, which raised Ush535.94 billion ($149.41 million), the telecom company remains one of East Africa’s fastest-growing digital economies, with mobile money, broadband access, and fintech adoption becoming key drivers of economic activity. MTN Uganda’s continued investment in network infrastructure positions the company to benefit from rising demand for digital services, even as operating costs and political risks remain.