Uganda Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in uganda, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Information and Communications Technology
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Overview

Private companies play a lead role in developing Uganda’s ICT infrastructure and digital economy, often in partnership with the government. ICT is identified as a pillar for growth under its ambitious ten year, ten-fold growth strategy starting in 2025. The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda, the Ugandan government’s technology development agency, has laid over 4,000 km (2,485 miles) of fiber optic cable around the country to connect the second tier of administrative units (sub-counties) within each district. Private sector entities laid over 7,800 km of fiber optic cables. These investments reduced the cost of internet connectivity. From 2017 to July 2025, the cost of commercial internet (25 Mbps+/mo) service dropped from an average of approximately $300 to $25. This provides an opportunity for the development of autonomous systems and robotics for agriculture and logistics; the scaling of fintech solutions to build on Uganda’s mobile money success; and the leveraging of data centers for precision medicine and biotech innovation. However, Uganda imposes 12% excise duty on each internet data service purchase, deducted when a purchase is made. In May 2021, Raxio, a company owned by U.S. investors, opened its $15 million tier III data center – Uganda’s first tier III center – in the Kampala Industrial and Business Park. Despite the rapid growth of the ICT sector, Facebook remains banned in Uganda since the January 2021 elections.      

Leading Sub-sectors

Data Centers and Content Delivery Nodes:  Growth in Uganda’s internet availability has pushed up demand for local data services, data security, and streamlined content delivery, including tier-rated data centers (currently only one Tier-III data center exists in Uganda), content partnerships, and data security expertise. 

Complementary Technologies: Due to increased internet access in all regions throughout Uganda, the use of complementary technologies is growing. This includes the use of “Internet of Things” devices and services, artificial intelligence, and industrial internet-connected devices. Internet-connected devices and services supporting the agriculture sector have particularly significant growth potential in Uganda.

Opportunities

Exporting telecommunication hardware may offer the best prospects within the sector. The following products are in high demand in Uganda:  cellular and wireless telephone systems, data transmission equipment, fiber optic equipment, trunked mobile phone systems, switches and routers, wireless access equipment, construction of ICT/BPO park, voice over internet telephone, VSAT, computers, and peripherals.

Resources

Uganda Communications Commission

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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