Uganda’s active mobile subscriptions reached 47.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest Market Performance Report released by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
The report, which covers January to March 2026, provides a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s communications sector, including subscriptions, traffic and usage, financial performance, postal services, broadcasting, and film.
Total active mobile subscriptions stood at 47.5 million, while fixed line subscriptions remained modest at 375,000. The device landscape continues to show a mix of technologies, with 13.3 million basic phones, 24.7 million feature phones, and 20.3 million smartphones still in use.
The report also noted that TikTok had 10.8 million active users in Uganda during the quarter, underscoring the growing appetite for short-form video content in the country.
Ugandans consumed vast amounts of digital content and services between January and March. The report recorded 2.37 billion mobile money transactions, reflecting the continued dominance of mobile financial services in the economy. Data consumption also surged, with 256.8 billion gigabytes downloaded during the quarter.
Voice traffic remained robust, with 20.9 billion domestic on-net minutes, 1.8 billion domestic off-net minutes, and nearly 197 million One Net Area (ONA) inbound minutes. International voice traffic included 13.2 million inbound minutes and 10.7 million outbound minutes.
The report indicated that total industry revenue stood at 1.66 trillion Uganda shillings in December 2025, compared to 1.62 trillion in September 2025 and 1.78 trillion in June 2025. The postal and courier sector also contributed to the overall performance, though specific revenue figures for Q1 2026 were not highlighted.
The postal and courier sector has expanded significantly, growing from 29 licensed operators in 2019 to 56 in 2026. However, the UCC noted that 60 percent of the sector remains unregulated. At the Annual Postal and Courier Engagement Forum held on 6th March 2026, stakeholders discussed challenges including licensing, customs, transport permits, and fee harmonisation. Key actions agreed upon include memoranda of understanding between URA and couriers, eBox rollout, and digital system integration.
Express Mail Service (EMS) recorded 1,638 outbound items and 1,873 inbound items during the quarter.
The broadcasting sector’s activities during the quarter were significantly shaped by the 2026 General Elections. UCC Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo appeared on multiple television and radio platforms, including NBS TV, UBC TV, BBS TV, Sanyuka TV, and radio programmes such as Big Talk on Next Radio and The Spectrum on Radio One. He consistently emphasised media responsibility, cautioned against misinformation and hate speech, and reminded broadcasters that only the Electoral Commission has the authority to announce official results.
In a notable enforcement action, Dean Saava Lubowa, proprietor of unlicensed online broadcaster TV10 – Gano Mazima, was convicted by the Makindye Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court for operating without a UCC licence. He pleaded guilty to three offences and received cumulative fines or custody, with 45 broadcasting items forfeited.
The UCC continued to nurture Uganda’s film industry during the quarter. The Regional Film Competition (RFC) 2026 ran from 2nd to 27th March across Soroti City, Arua City, Luwero District, and Hoima City. The competition drew 257 national submissions, with the Central region leading at 112, followed by Western (73), Eastern (67), and Northern (64).
Over 1,000 film stakeholders attended market screenings in Soroti, more than 700 in Hoima, and school outreaches reached up to 1,500 students. Eight trainee short films were produced. Digitally, the campaign achieved over 6.4 million impressions and an estimated reach of 1.27 million.
UCC also supported free public community screenings of the documentary Memories of Love Returned, which celebrates the life of renowned Ugandan photographer Kibaate Aloysius Saslongo. The film was directed by Ntare Guma Mbahe Mwine and has received international recognition across five continents.
In the area of digital inclusion, UCC delivered digital skills training to smallholder farmers in Adjumani District, covering topics such as mobile money reversal, online fraud prevention, and access to e-government services. The Commission also launched a nationwide Child Online Protection school outreach, identifying two ICT students per school as COP Ambassadors to promote peer-to-peer education.
UCC supported Uganda’s first bone marrow transplant centre with a contribution of USD 10,000, an initiative aimed at bringing life-saving treatment for sickle cell disease and blood cancers closer to home.
The Commission also announced the restoration of public internet and mobile services after the 2026 General Elections, following a temporary restriction introduced to prevent misinformation and electoral interference.
The Q1 2026 Market Performance Report reflects a sector that continues to grow in both scale and complexity. With mobile subscriptions nearing 48 million, data consumption soaring, and regulatory enforcement intensifying, the UCC has signalled its commitment to balancing growth with consumer protection, security, and accountability.
The full report is available on the Uganda Communications Commission’s website.