Telecom sector maintains strong performance in first quarter of 2026 spurred by continued growth in smartphone use
A notable trend during the quarter was the continued shift towards more advanced mobile devices. Uganda recorded 20.3 million smartphones, compared to 24.7 million feature phones and 13.3 million basic phones as of March 2026. The figures point to increasing access to internet-enabled services and digital platforms across the country.
Uganda’s telecommunications sector continued to demonstrate resilience and growing digital adoption in the first quarter of 2026, with mobile subscriptions remaining strong, smartphone penetration rising and social media usage expanding, according to the latest market performance report released by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
The report shows that active mobile subscriptions stood at 47.5 million by the end of March 2026, underscoring the country’s continued reliance on mobile communication services. Fixed-line subscriptions were recorded at 375,000 during the same period. Mobile money subscriptions reached 36.7 million, while mobile internet subscriptions stood at 18 million, highlighting the growing role of digital financial and internet services in everyday life.
A notable trend during the quarter was the continued shift towards more advanced mobile devices. Uganda recorded 20.3 million smartphones, compared to 24.7 million feature phones and 13.3 million basic phones as of March 2026. The figures point to increasing access to internet-enabled services and digital platforms across the country.
Social media platforms also maintained significant reach among Ugandan users. TikTok emerged as the most subscribed social media platform with 10.8 million subscriptions, followed closely by WhatsApp with 9.9 million users. YouTube registered 6.5 million subscriptions, while Snapchat had 2.8 million. Instagram accounted for 1.4 million subscriptions, X (formerly Twitter) had 700,000, and Netflix recorded 100,000 subscriptions.
The report further indicates robust activity across digital communication services. Mobile money transactions reached 2.37 billion during the quarter, while internet users downloaded 256.8 million gigabytes of data. USSD sessions, which support mobile banking and other digital services, totaled 19.1 billion. Domestic on-net voice traffic reached 20.9 billion minutes, while domestic off-net calls accounted for 1.8 billion minutes. International incoming voice traffic stood at 13.2 million minutes compared to 10.7 million outgoing international minutes.
Despite strong usage levels, telecom sector revenues registered a slight decline. Industry revenue stood at Shs1.60 trillion in the quarter ending March 2026, down from Shs1.66 trillion recorded in December 2025. The figure was also lower than the Shs1.62 trillion recorded in September 2025 and Shs1.78 trillion in June 2025.
Commenting on the findings, UCC said Uganda’s mobile device landscape continues to evolve and reflects a future where access to digital services is becoming increasingly available to citizens.
“This surge in mobile devices reflects a brighter future where access to digital services is within everyone’s reach. A connected Uganda means empowering every individual to participate in the digital economy. Regardless of the type of phone, connectivity serves as a powerful tool for communication, access to vital services, and unlocking new opportunities,” the Commission said.
UCC added that through interventions supported by the Universal Service and Access Fund, government is expanding ICT infrastructure and services in underserved communities to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all Ugandans are included in the country’s digital transformation journey.
