Business
'Uganda among most connected markets in East Africa'
"The increased penetration of mobile telephones has increased financial inclusion and improved access to e-commerce, telemedicine, marketing and agricultural information for farmers," Musasizi said.
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi said Uganda has of today registered 57.3 million mobile telephone subscriptions and 20 million smartphone connections. (Photo by Maria Wamala)
By: Mary Karugaba, Journalist @New Vision
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Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has informed the country that Uganda has registered tremendous growth in digital transformation, making it one of the most connected telecommunications markets in the region.
While presenting the 2026/27 national budget speech at Kololo Ceremonial grounds on Thursday, June 11, 2026, Musasizi said Uganda has of today registered 57.3 million mobile telephone subscriptions and 20 million smartphone connections.
According to Musasizi, the growth has been driven by continued government investment in digital infrastructure, particularly the expansion of the national fibre optic network aimed at improving the availability, reliability and affordability of internet services across the country.
"The Government continued expanding digital infrastructure to improve the availability, reliability and affordability of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) services, as well as access to the services," Musasizi told Parliament chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth.
He said an additional 879 kilometres of fibre optic cable were installed during the year (2025/26), extending the National Backbone Infrastructure to approximately 62,941 kilometres, lowering internet costs.
"As a result, internet costs declined from $70 to $35 per megabit per second," Musasizi said.
According to the minister, active mobile internet subscriptions now stand at 18.5 million, while the number of smartphones connected to Ugandan networks has reached 20 million.
"The total registered mobile telephone subscriptions have reached 57.3 million, placing Uganda among the most connected markets in the region," he noted.
He said the growth in connectivity is part of Uganda's broader digital transformation agenda, which seeks to leverage technology to support economic growth, improve service delivery and enhance access to information.
He said an additional 879 kilometres of fibre optic cable were installed during the year (2025/26), extending the National Backbone Infrastructure to approximately 62,941 kilometres, lowering internet costs.
"As a result, internet costs declined from $70 to $35 per megabit per second," Musasizi said.
According to the minister, active mobile internet subscriptions now stand at 18.5 million, while the number of smartphones connected to Ugandan networks has reached 20 million.
"The total registered mobile telephone subscriptions have reached 57.3 million, placing Uganda among the most connected markets in the region," he noted.
He said the growth in connectivity is part of Uganda's broader digital transformation agenda, which seeks to leverage technology to support economic growth, improve service delivery and enhance access to information.
And as a result, Musasizi said through the National Backbone Infrastructure project, fibre optic connectivity has been extended to major towns, government institutions, border points and business centres enabling faster internet services in both urban and rural areas.
The minister noted that the rapid growth in mobile phone ownership has played a critical role in deepening financial inclusion and expanding access to essential services.
"The increased penetration of mobile telephones has increased financial inclusion and improved access to e-commerce, telemedicine, marketing and agricultural information for farmers," Musasizi said.
According to budget figures, the value of mobile money transactions increased by 29 percent to sh392.7 trillion as of March 2026.
Data also indicated that active mobile money accounts stood at 36.7 million, while the number of mobile money agents reached 1.22 million by March 31, 2026.
The figures suggest that mobile money has become one of the most widely used financial service platforms in the country, supporting payments, savings, remittances and business transactions.
The minister noted that the rapid growth in mobile phone ownership has played a critical role in deepening financial inclusion and expanding access to essential services.
"The increased penetration of mobile telephones has increased financial inclusion and improved access to e-commerce, telemedicine, marketing and agricultural information for farmers," Musasizi said.
According to budget figures, the value of mobile money transactions increased by 29 percent to sh392.7 trillion as of March 2026.
Data also indicated that active mobile money accounts stood at 36.7 million, while the number of mobile money agents reached 1.22 million by March 31, 2026.
The figures suggest that mobile money has become one of the most widely used financial service platforms in the country, supporting payments, savings, remittances and business transactions.