Uganda has granted an operating license to Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink, President Yoweri Museveni announced on Friday, paving the way for the firm to begin services in the East African country.
Museveni said he oversaw the signing of an operational license agreement between the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Starlink, describing it as a key step toward launching operations in Uganda.
“I am pleased that Starlink has agreed to comply with Uganda’s laws and regulatory requirements as it prepares to begin service delivery in the country,” Museveni said in a post on X.
Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, has rapidly expanded across Africa in recent years and already operates in more than a dozen countries on the continent, including Somalia.
The move comes amid growing frustration among Ugandan consumers over the high cost and unreliable quality of internet services, with critics often blaming limited market competition.
Uganda’s data market is currently dominated by a subsidiary of South Africa’s MTN Group, while India’s Bharti Airtel remains its main competitor.
The Uganda Communications Commission, the country’s telecoms regulator, is expected to oversee Starlink’s rollout and compliance with local regulations.