The Ugandan government has welcomed MTN Uganda's contribution of Sh54.27 billion (US$14.79 million) to the Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF).
The contribution is a major boost to the specialised fund, whose primary goal is to bridge the digital divide by extending information and communication technology infrastructure, internet access and digital literacy to rural and underserved communities across the country.
Funded through statutory levies paid by licensed telecommunications operators, the UCUSAF supports initiatives that extend communications infrastructure, internet access and digital literacy programmes to underserved communities.
Nyombi Thembo, executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), said in Kampala that MTN Uganda's remittance of its statutory 2 percent levy on annual gross revenue reflected the strong partnership between the regulator and licensed operators in advancing Uganda's digital transformation agenda.
The UCC commended MTN's continued commitment to connectivity, digital inclusion and national development.
"We thank MTN Uganda for viewing this responsibility not as a burden, but as a shared investment in Uganda's future," Thembo said on Tuesday.
He said the contribution supports digital skills development through the Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology and enables the expansion of reliable communications services to unserved and underserved communities, including commercially unviable areas.
"By embracing the levy as a contribution to national development rather than a compliance requirement, MTN continues to demonstrate responsible corporate citizenship and a shared commitment to digital inclusion for all Ugandans," Thembo said.
MTN accounts for over 52 per cent of Uganda's telecommunications market, making it the country's largest mobile operator.
Sylvia Mulinge, chief executive officer of MTN Uganda, said that while the country had made strong progress in connectivity, a key gap remained: although Uganda has more than 47 million mobile subscriptions, fewer than 19 million people actively use mobile internet.
"The reality is connectivity alone isn't the goal; meaningful participation is," she said.
"As government advances Uganda's ICT and innovation agenda, the focus must stay on access, affordability and digital skills," Mulinge added.
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