Godfrey Mutabazi, Executive Director

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is the regulatory body of the communications sector in Uganda. Classified as one the most liberalised communications and broadcasting sectors in Africa, Uganda has 55 licensed TV stations and 270 FM radio stations.

UCC has played a big role in spurring the growth of Information Communication Technology (ICT) through its Universal Access Programme known as the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF). Established in 2003, RCDF aims to provide access to basic ICT for rural and underserved communities of Uganda. RCDF develops appropriate ICT projects for the underserved and underserviced areas.

The key intervention areas promote e-health, e-education, e-business and e-governance. “We have managed to reach about three quarters of the country’s rural population by providing Internet Points of Presence (PoP), internet cafes, ICT training centres, district web portals, public payphones, GSM network expansion, school ICT laboratories and health ICT facilities, among others,” says Godfrey Mutabazi, Executive Director of UCC, adding that RCDF has become a paragon of universal access in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.

UCC’s top-notch regulatory oversight has led to significant decreases in retail prices of communications services in Uganda — among others — hence enabling Ugandans to enjoy affordable and easily accessible communications services. During the 7th edition of the Africa Telecom People (ATP) held in the Ivory Coast in October 2011, UCC was voted the best regulator of the communications sector in East and Southern Africa for its ‘affirmative action’.

One of the Commission’s goals is to continue to upgrade technologies in Uganda’s schools as the country brings its education system up to world-class standards. The development of Uganda’s film industry is also high on UCC’s agenda. “We want to see more film productions in Uganda. We are designing training programmes for professionals in the Ugawood film industry,” Godfrey Mutabazi notes.

There is little doubt that Uganda is a popular ICT investment destination. No wonder, the communications sector accounts for 6.3% of the country GDP, compared to 3.4% the year before. With increasing population growth, improvement in living standards, and infrastructure, high literacy and quality education, the sky is the limit. He adds, “As a country, we are opening up value-added services and launching many other projects. We see an immensely bright future for the UCC and Uganda at large.”

The sector may be experiencing some challenges, but overall it offers significant investment attractions. The seven major licensed telecom firms are doing brisk business, while Ugandans get value for money. Godfrey Mutabazi singles out voice services as an area of lucrative investment. He adds, “In the ICT industry, there are a lot of business opportunities now as a result of market liberalisation, particularly in rural areas where most of Uganda’s 33 million people live.”

Uganda Communications Commission

Plot 42-44 Spring Road, Bugolobi
PO Box 7376, Kampala
Tel:+256 414 33 9000
[email protected]
www.ucc.co.ug