ATC Uganda Gives UCC Shs20.9 Billion to Expand Digital Access Across Underserved Communities

What the report says

Nile Post reports that ATC Uganda, the local arm of American Tower Corporation, has handed Shs20.9 billion to the Uganda Communications Commission to help extend communication services to underserved communities. The money is to be routed through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund, known as UCUSAF, which backs connectivity projects in places where telecom infrastructure may not be commercially attractive. The handover took place on Thursday at UCC headquarters.

According to the report, the ceremony was attended by Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance Joyce Ssebugwawo, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo and ATC Uganda Chief Executive Officer Dorothy Ssemanda. Ssebugwawo said cooperation between the state, regulators and private companies is important for widening access to digital services and enabling more citizens to benefit from the digital economy.

UCUSAF is intended to support communications access in areas that remain unserved, underserved or difficult to reach through normal market investment. Thembo said contributions from industry players improve UCC’s ability to run universal access programmes, while Ssemanda linked ATC Uganda’s contribution to its role in providing shared tower infrastructure used by mobile operators for voice, data and other services.

The development matters because Uganda is still working to narrow gaps in digital access, especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities where limited network infrastructure can restrict access to information, business services, education and health-related digital tools. Nile Post frames the contribution as part of broader government and private-sector efforts to expand network coverage and digital inclusion across the country.