By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Discussions
between satellite internet provider Starlink and the Uganda Communications
Commission (UCC) regarding licensing are reportedly ongoing, with President
Yoweri Museveni indicating that the government could allow the service to
operate in the country if costs are reduced. The talks come amid the suspension
of Starlink’s services in Uganda following a directive from the national
communications regulator.
Starlink
shut down access to its satellite internet service after receiving instructions
from the UCC, which cited the company’s lack of authorisation to operate in
Uganda. The development has drawn heightened attention as it comes less than
two weeks before the country’s general elections scheduled for 15 January 2026.
In
a letter dated 1 January 2026 to the UCC, Starlink’s Director for Market
Access, Ben MacWilliams, stated that the company is not licensed to operate in
Uganda because its local entity has not been granted regulatory approval. He
noted that any use of Starlink services within the country had occurred without
the company’s consent and in violation of its terms of service.
Starlink,
owned by SpaceX, first appeared in Uganda in late 2023 through the purchase and
activation of terminals in neighbouring countries where the service is
licensed. While the technology has been viewed as a potential solution for
improving connectivity in rural and remote areas underserved by fibre and
mobile networks, its operations in Uganda have remained unauthorised.
MacWilliams
has been widely quoted as saying that Starlink Uganda has never imported or
distributed terminals in the country. Despite this, public interest in the
service has grown, particularly as internet access becomes an increasingly
critical issue during election periods.
The
suspension has raised concerns among opposition figures and civil society
groups about the freedom to access internet services ahead of the polls.
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has called
for the reactivation of Starlink’s services, amid fears that connectivity
restrictions could limit political mobilisation and the sharing of
election-related information.
Ugandan
authorities have denied plans to impose a nationwide internet shutdown during
the elections. However, during the 2021 general elections, internet access was
cut across the country for four days, and access to social media platforms such
as Facebook and Twitter was restricted for an extended period.
