UCC launches study on smartphone usage as Uganda targets universal coverage by 2030

What the report says

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has begun a study in Kampala to examine how Ugandans use mobile phones, especially smartphones, as the country pursues full national network coverage by 2030. According to The Independent Uganda, the research will look at smartphone adoption, device prices and barriers to accessing phone-based services, with the aim of informing policies that improve digital participation.

UCC said the study should create a baseline for future interventions and help measure progress on digital inclusion. The commission also highlighted a wider gap between network reach and actual use: although most of Uganda is covered by 4G, internet-enabled services are still used by relatively few people. UCC officials said the issue is not only coverage, but whether people can afford and make practical use of connected devices.

The article reported several figures from UCC data, including millions of registered mobile subscriptions and a smaller number of active users. It also noted that smartphone adoption remains limited, with cost identified as a major reason. UCC said taxes make up a significant share of the price of an entry-level smartphone, while stakeholders including telecom companies have urged policymakers to consider the full cost of digital access, such as devices, electricity and power reliability.

The report adds that operators such as MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda and Uganda Telecom Corporation Limited support efforts to expand digital inclusion, but warn that network expansion alone will not close the usage gap if smartphones and services remain unaffordable, particularly for low-income and rural communities.