President Yoweri Museveni has indicated that Uganda is considering allowing Starlink, the satellite internet service by Elon Musk, to operate in the country, provided it proves to be more affordable than the current underground fiber-optic infrastructure.
In a statement made during a recent meeting with bloggers, Museveni revealed that he had been in talks with Musk about Starlink, which he claimed had made significant strides in reducing satellite communication costs. According to the President, if Starlink can offer a more cost-effective solution than the existing underground network, the government would be open to its operations in Uganda.
“I have been in talks with Elon Musk; he has been telling me that his satellite, it is called Starlink. He has been telling me that satellite is now cheaper. We are studying that. If it is true, we shall allow Elon Musk to bring his satellites here if they can make digital connection cheaper than the underground,” Museveni said.
This statement comes just weeks before Uganda’s general elections, a time when the government has historically imposed internet disruptions or shutdowns, raising concerns about potential restrictions on digital connectivity during the election period.
To prevent internet outages, many Ugandans have already started importing Starlink equipment. However, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) intervened, placing restrictions on Starlink imports, mandating clearance from the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, before any devices can be brought into the country. In response, Starlink temporarily halted its services in Uganda after concerns were raised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which noted that the company lacked proper licensing.
Museveni emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding internet access across the country, highlighting the success of Uganda’s National Optical Fibre Cable Backbone, which has greatly reduced the cost of internet services by connecting Uganda to undersea cables linking Asia and Europe. However, he also expressed that Starlink would be welcomed if it could lower costs for ordinary Ugandans and meet regulatory standards.
