Uganda is on the verge of a significant digital leap as the government enters the final stages of negotiations to license Starlink, the satellite internet constellation operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The move is designed to aggressively bridge the country’s “digital divide,” bringing high-speed connectivity to the most remote corners of the nation.
Hon. Godfrey Baluku Kabbyanga, the Minister of State for ICT, confirmed the development, noting that satellite technology is the missing piece of the puzzle in Uganda’s nationwide internet expansion strategy. While traditional fiber-optic cables have limits in rugged or sparsely populated terrain, Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites can deliver low-latency broadband nearly anywhere.
“We are in final discussions to license Starlink,” Baluku stated. “Once licensed, it is expected to improve nationwide coverage and give users more options while driving better service quality and pricing.”
While the government is simultaneously expanding its National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI), that project is currently prioritized for public institutions and government offices. Starlink is viewed as a complementary force that will cater to private users and enterprises in areas where fiber is either too expensive or physically impossible to lay.
The entry of a global titan like Starlink is also expected to shake up the local ISP market. By introducing a new tier of competition, the government hopes to see more aggressive pricing and improved service reliability from existing telecommunications providers.
The Starlink news comes amidst a broader regulatory overhaul in Uganda’s ICT sector. Minister Baluku revealed that the government is tightening the screws on existing telecom operators. Under new mandates, providers must demonstrate at least 90% national coverage before their licenses can be renewed.
To support this, the government is investing in additional mast infrastructure and pushing for a “shared infrastructure” model, allowing different companies to utilize the same towers to maximize efficiency and reach.
The AI and Security Frontier
Uganda’s digital roadmap extends beyond just connectivity. The Minister also announced the formation of an expert task force dedicated to drafting a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy and regulatory framework. The group has six months to present a roadmap that will eventually lead to formal legislation in Parliament.
However, the rapid expansion of digital access has also raised red flags regarding security. During the same briefing, Hon. Stephen Aseera called for tighter coordination between ICT regulators and security agencies. As more Ugandans come online, the risk of cybercrime grows, prompting calls for the government to treat digital safety as a core pillar of national security.
For a tech-hungry population, the arrival of Starlink represents more than just another ISP; it marks a shift toward universal access. If the final talks conclude successfully, Uganda will join a growing list of African nations leveraging satellite tech to bypass infrastructure bottlenecks and future-proof their digital economies.
