Uganda, Starlink Near Licensing Deal After Museveni Directive
Uganda is moving closer to allowing Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, to begin operations after President Museveni directed regulators to fast-track a licensing framework, according to people familiar with the matter.
Officials are drafting a licensing agreement between the government and Starlink, a unit of SpaceX, that would formally authorize the company to provide satellite-based internet services in Uganda, the sources said, asking not to be named because the talks are not public.
A joint launch event is expected to be presided over by Museveni, signaling high-level political backing for the entry of the low-Earth orbit broadband provider into one of East Africa’s fastest-growing digital markets.
The breakthrough follow
s a recent meeting at State House Entebbe attended by Starlink executives, Uganda’s ambassador to the United Nations Adonia Ayebare, and senior officials from the Ministry of ICT and the Uganda Communications Commission.
The meeting was a follow-up to an earlier engagement in December, where Museveni publicly welcomed the company’s interest in Uganda after meeting Starlink representatives Ben MacWilliams and Brandi Oliver, facilitated by Ambassador Ayebare and Ambassador Popp.
“I had a productive meeting with Starlink representatives, Ben MacWilliams and Brandi Oliver, brought to me by Ambassador Adonia and Ambassador Popp. I appreciate their commitment to providing low-cost internet in hard-to-reach areas and establishing a presence in Uganda. They are welcome,” Museveni said at the time. Uganda Rail Projects
During the latest meeting, Museveni directed the ICT ministry, which supervises the UCC, to facilitate Starlink’s entry and grant it a license
The move marks a significant policy shift after months of regulatory friction, including restrictions on the importation of Starlink equipment and concerns over unauthorized usage of satellite terminals in the country.
At the center of negotiations has been a disagreement over licensing fees and classification.
UCC had initially required Starlink to pay over $20 million for a national telecommunications operator license, similar to those held by traditional telecom firms that provide voice, data and mobile money services.
“Starlink pushed back, arguing it should not be treated as a full telecom operator because it only provides data services, unlike incumbents that bundle voice and financial services,” .
Under the emerging framework, Starlink is expected to operate independently under a revised licensing structure, potentially creating a new category for satellite internet providers, the sources said.
The company has also indicated it could wholesale bandwidth to local telecom operators, opening up partnerships with existing players rather than competing directly across all service lines.
Discussions also addressed government concerns over control of communications during politically sensitive periods.
Ugandan authorities have historically ordered internet shutdowns or restrictions during elections and periods of unrest, raising questions about how satellite-based networks, which bypass terrestrial infrastructure, would comply. Uganda Rail Projects
Starlink officials told government counterparts they would establish a local office and ground infrastructure (substation) to ensure responsiveness to regulatory and security requests, the sources said.
As part of the proposed agreement, Starlink has committed to paying taxes in Uganda, creating local employment opportunities and supporting innovation ecosystems, including digital startups and connectivity-driven services.
The company also pledged to @deliver nationwide internet coverage, targeting underserved regions and critical sectors such as healthcare, education and tourism, where connectivity gaps remain significant.”
Starlink’s entry could reshape Uganda’s internet landscape, where penetration remains relatively low, estimated at about 30% of the population, and access is often limited by high costs and patchy infrastructure.
Satellite broadband is increasingly seen by policymakers as a complement to fibre and mobile networks, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where traditional infrastructure is expensive to deploy.
Starlink also promised competitive prices for its internet services.
Starlink pricing in Africa varies by country, generally ranging from $10 to $50 per month for service, with high hardware costs (often $200–$400+).
The Starlink deal would align Uganda with a growing number of African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria, that have licensed or are engaging with Starlink as part of broader digital transformation strategies.
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