Starlink lands in Uganda as SpaceX signs landmark licence deal with UCC
For the UCC, the signing marks a significant expansion of its regulatory remit into satellite internet, a technology that, by its very nature, is harder to govern than cable or mobile networks. The requirement for a domestic gateway and registered devices appears designed precisely to give the commission the levers it needs to monitor and, if necessary, restrict the service.
Ceremony at State House, Entebbe marks end of long negotiations — and the start of a new chapter for Uganda’s internet landscape
Uganda has opened its doors to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service after the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and SpaceX signed a Memorandum of Understanding and operational licence agreement at a ceremony witnessed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House, Entebbe, on Friday 15 May 2026.
The signing, conducted by UCC Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo and a Starlink delegation led by Ryan Goodnight, clears the last regulatory hurdle for the company’s commercial launch in the country — and sets up a formal operating framework designed to balance foreign investment with national oversight.
“Our interest remains security, revenue assurance, and ensuring proper accountability within the telecommunications sector so that we clearly know what is happening with telecom companies and who the customers are,” President Museveni said.
Museveni, who watched Thembo hand the operational certificate directly to Starlink representatives at the conclusion of the ceremony, described the agreement as an important step in strengthening Uganda’s ICT and connectivity landscape. His remarks set the tone for a deal that the government has framed firmly around sovereignty and control as much as connectivity.
What the licence requires
Under the terms negotiated between the two sides, Starlink will be obligated to establish a national gateway with a physical point of presence on Ugandan soil, register all devices activated within the country’s borders, and maintain a permanent operational office staffed with technical, legal and support personnel. The UCC issued accompanying certification immediately after the signing to guide Starlink’s rollout in line with national regulatory standards.
Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said the licence followed extensive engagement between government officials and Starlink representatives before both sides agreed on its terms and features. “We are witnessing the signing of the provisional licence for Starlink after agreeing on the terms and features of the licence,” she said, adding that the framework demonstrates Uganda’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity while safeguarding national interests.
“We believe this partnership will lower internet costs and enable more people to join the digital economy. We are ready to comply with Uganda’s laws and work closely with the government and UCC.” Ryan Goodnight, Starlink / Spacex said
Starlink’s pitches affordability and social impact
For his part, Goodnight was effusive about the company’s ambitions in Uganda. Beyond commercial connectivity, he announced that Starlink intends to donate internet-connected devices to selected schools and health facilities across the country, a move that signals the company is keen to build goodwill with the ministries that will shape its regulatory environment going forward.
“I am excited to see the impact this project will make,” Goodnight said. “We believe it will have an excellent impact, especially if we work together with the ministries of Education and Health.” The pledge mirrors strategies Starlink and its parent company SpaceX have deployed in other African markets where public-sector partnerships have helped accelerate commercial rollout while softening political resistance.
A market long in waiting
Uganda’s internet penetration has grown steadily in recent years, but rural and peri-urban areas remain poorly served by the country’s existing fibre and mobile broadband infrastructure. Starlink’s low-earth-orbit satellite network, which beams high-speed connectivity directly to ground terminals without requiring terrestrial infrastructure, is well-suited to bridging that gap, though the cost of hardware has historically limited uptake across lower-income markets on the continent.
Whether the pricing model Starlink negotiates for Uganda will make it accessible beyond institutional and affluent residential customers will be a critical test. The ceremony at State House was also attended by Robie Kakonge, Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States, underscoring the diplomatic weight both governments attach to the deal.
For the UCC, the signing marks a significant expansion of its regulatory remit into satellite internet, a technology that, by its very nature, is harder to govern than cable or mobile networks. The requirement for a domestic gateway and registered devices appears designed precisely to give the commission the levers it needs to monitor and, if necessary, restrict the service.
Whether Starlink can satisfy those oversight demands while still delivering on its promise of affordable, wide-area connectivity will define the partnership’s success, and set the template for how Uganda handles the next wave of global tech platforms seeking a foothold in East Africa.
