American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda has presented $5.7 million (UGX 20.9 billion) to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to fulfil its statutory obligation to remit 2% of gross annual revenue to the state.
The levy finances the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), extending communications services to underserved communities to bridge the digital divide.
Held at the UCC head office in Kampala, the handover ceremony was attended by minister of state for ICT and national guidance Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, UCC executive director Nyombi Thembo, and ATC Uganda chief executive officer Dorothy Ssemanda.
The contribution demonstrates the power of partnership between government and the private sector in advancing the nation’s digital transformation agenda, said Minister Ssebugwawo.
She noted that while the levy is a statutory licensing obligation, it represents more than regulatory compliance.
Ssebugwawo added: “This contribution reflects the principle that companies which prosper in Uganda should also contribute to Uganda’s long-term development. It supports a specific national objective of extending the benefits of communications technology to communities that might otherwise be left behind."
The minister said the country’s digital agenda must now move beyond expanding network coverage to ensuring the meaningful use of connectivity.
“We know of many citizens who live within network coverage but still lack meaningful access because devices remain expensive, data is unaffordable, or they lack the digital skills needed to participate confidently in the digital economy. Digital transformation is not simply about deploying more infrastructure. It is about improving lives."
Half of the contribution is remitted to the Consolidated Fund, while the balance is retained by the UCC to finance UCUSAF initiatives, including infrastructure expansion, internet connectivity, and digital skills development, said Thembo.
ATC remains committed to supporting digital transformation by enabling operators to expand network coverage through shared telecoms infrastructure, said the minister.
She continued: “Every tower we build and every site we upgrade supports operators in extending communications services closer to communities, businesses, schools, and health facilities across Uganda."
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