19 July 2022

Members of Parliament urged telecommunications companies operating in Uganda to offer consumers cheaper voice and data packages to help increase the penetration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the country.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has instructed the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to contract telecom operators to provide only unlimited voice and data packages with no expiry date. "Technology has no expiration date," he said. "In many countries, you just have to reactivate the package; it's like the money in your account: when the bank tells you that your account has become inactive, it is then reactivated and you can access your money." 

The initiative is part of the Ugandan government's digital transformation ambitions, which aim to make ICT a major driver of the country's economic growth. A few days earlier, operator Airtel Uganda increased the volume of its data plans by 150%, at the same prices, to help customers adjust to the difficult economic times.

If implemented, this initiative should enable consumers to enjoy high-quality, reliable and pressure-free communication services at affordable prices. It would also attract new consumers of telecom services and increase competition in the domestic market. As of the first quarter of 2022, mobile penetration in Uganda stood at 69%, according to the UCC.