Government has announced an initiative to reduce internet costs by 50% starting January 2025.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication at the ministry of ICT Moses Watasa, said this during the closing ceremony of Phase One at the Innovation and Growth Acceleration Program, organized by Youth Startup Academy Uganda in Kampala.
He added that this move aims at making internet access more affordable and accessible, particularly for low-income individuals and businesses.
Watasa emphasized government’s commitment to making internet services more affordable and expanding fiber internet connectivity across the country.
“By the end of January next year, you will see for yourselves that the internet prices will have come down,” he said.
The Ministry of ICT is currently developing policies to ensure that ICT benefits young people, particularly through increased internet access.
Government’s significant investments in nationwide internet connectivity underscores this commitment.
Watasa expressed gratitude to the Korean government for its support in Uganda’s National ICT and digital transformation journey.
He recognized the vital role young people play in advancing this digital shift and emphasized their importance in shaping Uganda’s future tech landscape.
This comes at a time when Uganda is ranked among the countries in the East African region with the most expensive internet having an average price of a 1GB for mobile data at approximately Ugx5,000.
Uganda ranks 103rd out of 237 countries on the internet affordability, according to Cable.co.uk, an internet pricing comparison website.
The region’s most affordable internet can be found in Somalia (ranked 45th), Rwanda (52nd), Kenya (57th), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (68th). Tanzania ranks 84th, Burundi ranks 102nd, just ahead of Uganda and South Sudan at 234th.
