MTN Uganda hands over Shs36bn annual levy to UCC
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Front Row (L-R) MTN Uganda Chief Technical Information Officer, Ali Monzer, MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge, UCC ED Eng. Irene Kaggwa, Universal Services and Access Fund Director, Nyombi Thembo, and MTN Uganda Chief Finance Officer, Andrew Bugembe during MTN’s handover of UGX 36bn.
MTN Uganda has boosted the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund with Shs36 billion for the year 2023 towards extending communications services to underserved and unserved areas.
All licensed telecom operator’s telecom in the country are required to pay a statutory 2% levy on their annual gross revenues to the Fund administered by Uganda Communications Commission.
Established in 2003, the Fund then known as the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF) addresses issues of connectivity, access, affordability, and equity of ICT services to the population.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the UCC offices in Kampala, MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Sylvia Mulinge, said they are excited as a telco to contribute to the Fund because it will help extend ICT services in unserved and underserved areas.
“We at MTN Uganda are glad that we are contributing to the Universal Service and Access Fund that will not only help deepen digital services but also boost various sectors of the economy like education, agriculture, and health among others,” she said.
“We believe that our support towards this Fund will also help us achieve our ambition of ensuring that everyone enjoys the benefits of a modern connected life,” Mulinge added.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Q2 2022 market performance report, the total number of connected mobile phone devices increased from 35 million in April to 36.1 million in June 2022.
The total number of broadband connections stood at 23.7 million subscriptions as digital financial services had a total of 40.7 million during the same period.
UCC Executive Director, Eng. Irene Kaggwa, congratulated MTN Uganda for the contribution as it will go a long way in ensuring that the country achieves digital inclusion as envisioned in the Digital Vision 2040.
She said Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund has over the years enabled the government to set up computer labs in about 1300 secondary schools and give out about 4,000 mobile phones devices to vulnerable households.
