Technology 19 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Starlink Secures License to Offer Satellite Internet Services in Uganda
Uganda Communications Commission has granted Starlink Services LLC a five-year operational license to provide satellite internet, aiming to expand connectivity to remote areas. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/starlink-gets-go-ahead-to-provide-satellite-internet-5466272
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has officially granted Starlink Services LLC a five-year operational license, marking a significant step towards expanding internet access across Uganda.
The agreement, signed on May 15, 2026, allows Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, to establish telecommunication infrastructure and provide satellite broadband, a first for the country. This move is expected to bridge the digital divide by bringing internet services to the most remote regions, where traditional broadband infrastructure is lacking.
President Yoweri Museveni, who witnessed the signing, emphasized the importance of security, revenue assurance, and accountability within the telecommunications sector. Starlink’s Market Access Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight, stated the company’s commitment to complying with Ugandan laws and believes the partnership will lower internet costs and foster digital economy participation.
Discussions between Starlink and the Ugandan government began in April 2025, with a temporary pause on equipment clearance prior to the January 2026 elections due to concerns about the potential difficulty in jamming the signals. The provisional license period will allow both UCC and Starlink to assess the technology and the market respectively.