Airtel Uganda has reported a 13.9% increase in profit after tax to Shs224.7 billion for the first half of 2026, driven by surging demand for mobile data as the company’s digital transformation strategy continues to deliver strong results.
The telecom operator’s total revenue rose 10.2% to Shs1.1949 trillion during the six months ended June 30, 2026, despite pressure from lower interconnect rates and the temporary shutdown of internet services during Uganda’s January 2026 general elections.
Data revenue emerged as the company’s fastest-growing major revenue stream, increasing 16.1% to Shs610.6 billion. The growth was underpinned by an 18.8% expansion in the data customer base to 8.9 million, while data usage per customer rose 21% to 7.2GB. Overall data traffic across the network surged by 42.1% during the period.
Airtel Uganda Managing Director and CEO Soumendra Sahu attributed the performance to the company’s strong showing in the Home Broadband segment and the growing adoption of digital services.
“Data revenue grew 16.1% on the backdrop of our strong performance in the Home Broadband segment where we strengthened our go-to-market strategy, and an 18.8% growth in Data customers for the period,” Sahu said.
To meet rising data consumption, Airtel Uganda significantly increased its capital expenditure, which rose 82.9% to Shs160.5 billion during the six-month period, compared with Shs87.8 billion in the first half of 2025. The company deployed 494 additional 4G sites, 384 5G sites, and 1,621 kilometres of fibre. By June 30, all Airtel Uganda sites were 4G-enabled, while the 5G network had expanded to 584 sites across key cities.
Smartphone penetration also increased by 676 basis points to 46.6%, creating a larger pool of customers able to access mobile internet services. The company extended broadband services to more than 57,000 homes and small businesses, a 64% increase during the period.
Airtel Uganda has also secured regulatory approval and is testing Direct-to-Cell technology in partnership with Starlink, exploring satellite connectivity to expand its reach to areas not adequately served by conventional infrastructure. The company has been expanding its digital inclusion efforts, providing free internet connectivity to about 200 schools across the country and sponsoring 20 university students through its scholarship programme.
The improved profitability allowed the Board to declare an interim dividend of Shs3.1 per share, equivalent to Shs124 billion, for the quarter ended June 30, bringing total dividends for the first half of 2026 to Shs4.90 per share.
Airtel Uganda’s strong performance reflects the broader trend across Airtel Africa, which saw its East African operations grow revenue by 18.9% in reported currency, supported by a 15.7% increase in data customers and a 50.3% surge in data traffic.
