Telecom Sector Power Forum 2025: Powering Uganda’s Digital Future

On 5 August 2025, leaders from Uganda’s telecom and energy sectors gathered at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kampala for the Telecom Sector Power Forum 2025, united under the theme: “Powering the Telecom Sector to Drive Socio-Economic Transformation.” This landmark event jointly organised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda brought together a dynamic mix of stakeholders—from government institutions and telecom operators to regulators, civil society, and development partners—to confront a critical question: How can Uganda bridge the power gap to unlock digital inclusion for all?

At the heart of the discussion was a simple but powerful message: electricity is the oxygen of the digital age. Without energy, there can be no internet, no mobile connectivity, no AI or digital education. And where there’s no electricity, there’s no digital future. 

Fred Otunnu, Director of Corporate Affairs at UCC, emphasized that energy and digital access are deeply intertwined. “Where there is no electricity, there is no digital access,” he said. “Broadband growth mirrors energy availability. One paves the way for the other.” Uganda’s ambitious target to reach 100% network coverage within five years is dependent on a parallel expansion in power infrastructure—particularly in rural and underserved areas.

The government’s strategic plan, Vision 2040, as reflected in the upcoming National Development Plan IV (NDP IV), recognizes this urgency by setting a national electricity access target of 100%, up from 58% in NDP III. Powering telecom infrastructure is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Participants underscored the high cost of running off-grid telecom sites—some costing up to seven times more than grid-connected ones. With over 1,000 such sites still relying on off-grid power, reducing this gap is crucial to both affordability and sustainability.

Dorothy Ssemanda, CEO of American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda, highlighted that the company’s investment between 2012 and the present had resulted in 2000 kilometres extension of the grid. She called for actionable policy interventions, including tax incentives for power-related investments, a streamlined rebate mechanism by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), and the integration of tower location data into national electrification plans. “As electricity access increases, so does digital inclusion—mobile money, internet usage, and education all grow in tandem,” she noted.

Representing MTN Uganda, CEO Sylvia Mulinge likened electricity to oxygen, stating it’s indispensable for everything from smart healthcare to education. She also raised a growing concern: infrastructure vandalism. “Stealing from a tower is stealing from your community,” she warned, urging stronger community engagement and protection of these vital assets.

Airtel’s Rajesh Agrawal echoed the urgency, advocating for zero towers without grid power. He highlighted the economic stakes, noting that a 10% growth in telecom contributes 2.5% to Uganda’s GDP. For Uganda to thrive, he stressed, telecom infrastructure must be recognised as strategic national infrastructure.

The call for coordinated national action was clear. Stakeholders across the board stressed the need to align energy and telecom infrastructure development, breaking down the institutional silos that have historically slowed progress.

Marek Busfy, CEO of ATC Africa and Asia, highlighted that “Power drives everything. Let’s work together to make Uganda globally competitive.”

That collaborative spirit was echoed by Robin Nandy, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda and UNICEF Representative, who linked energy access to broader development outcomes—healthcare, education, food security, and women’s empowerment—through the lens of the Mission 300 initiative, which seeks to electrify 300 million Africans by 2030.

A short film, “The Tower Tale,” brought the forum’s messages to life, spotlighting how digital access transforms lives:

• In Fort Portal, digital education programmes are thriving.
• In Kagadi, there has been an increase in youth jobs.
• At Namumira Hill, Mukono District, children can study at night thanks to reliable electricity and Internet.

The message was clear: when we power towers, we power lives.

The Road Ahead: Powering Every Tower

The forum concluded with a shared roadmap to drive Uganda’s digital transformation through energy access:

1. Electrify All Telecom Sites: Make telecom a priority in national electrification strategies.
2. Establish a Joint Task Force: Enable streamlined collaboration between the energy and telecom sectors.
3. Expand Rebates and Incentives: Catalyze private sector investment in rural energy solutions.
4. Adopt Shared Infrastructure Models: Optimize investments and avoid duplication.
5. Strengthen Community Engagement: Foster local ownership and protection of infrastructure.

As Minister of State for Energy, Hon. Sidronius Okaasai Opolot, noted: “There is no part of Uganda we cannot reach with clean power—whether through rivers or the sun.”

Lighting Up Uganda's Digital Future

The Telecom Sector Power Forum made one thing abundantly clear: electricity is the key enabler of Uganda’s digital transformation. From classrooms to clinics, from small businesses to smart technologies, power and connectivity are the backbones of progress. “Electricity may be invisible,” MTN’s Sylvia Mulinge concluded, “but it powers everything. We will remain in the dark if we choose not to light it up.”

With clear goals under NDP IV, and growing momentum across public and private sectors, Uganda is on the path to becoming a fully connected, digitally empowered nation—one powered tower at a time.