Business
WhatsApp closes gap on TikTok in race for Uganda’s social media users
TikTok remained Uganda’s most subscribed platform as of June 2026, with 11.4 million subscriptions against WhatsApp’s 11 million, the report shows.
WhatsApp closes gap on TikTok in race for Uganda’s social media users
By: Ali Twaha, Journalist @New Vision
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WhatsApp grew faster than TikTok in the second quarter of 2026, narrowing the lead TikTok has held at the top of Uganda's social media subscriptions, according to the latest Uganda Communications Commission’s (UCC) Market Performance Report.
TikTok remained Uganda’s most subscribed platform as of June 2026, with 11.4 million subscriptions against WhatsApp’s 11 million, the report shows.
But the gap between the two has shrunk. In the first quarter of 2026, TikTok led WhatsApp by 0.9 million subscriptions, 10.8 million against 9.9 million.
But the gap between the two has shrunk. In the first quarter of 2026, TikTok led WhatsApp by 0.9 million subscriptions, 10.8 million against 9.9 million.
By the end of the second quarter, that lead had narrowed to just 0.4 million, after WhatsApp added 1.1 million subscriptions, growth of 11.11%, compared with TikTok's addition of 600,000, growth of 5.56%.
YouTube grew 6.15%, from 6.5 million to 6.9 million subscriptions, keeping its position as Uganda’s third-largest platform by a wide margin.
Instagram grew 7.14%, from 1.4 million to 1.5 million. X recorded the fastest percentage growth of any platform tracked, 28.57%, rising from 0.7 million to 0.9 million subscriptions. Snapchat held steady at 2.8 million subscriptions and Netflix at 0.1 million.
YouTube grew 6.15%, from 6.5 million to 6.9 million subscriptions, keeping its position as Uganda’s third-largest platform by a wide margin.
Instagram grew 7.14%, from 1.4 million to 1.5 million. X recorded the fastest percentage growth of any platform tracked, 28.57%, rising from 0.7 million to 0.9 million subscriptions. Snapchat held steady at 2.8 million subscriptions and Netflix at 0.1 million.