KAMPALA, UGANDA — President Yoweri Museveni has urged MTN Group and other investors to expand their focus beyond narrow business sectors, emphasizing the need for investments that generate jobs and raise incomes to boost Africa’s purchasing power.
President Museveni’s comments came during a meeting with an MTN Group delegation at State House Entebbe on 9th, May 2025, coinciding with MTN Uganda’s announcement of a significant nationwide network upgrade.
Mr Museveni stressed the importance of investing in the four key sectors of wealth and job creation: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT. “It is important to invest in sectors that generate jobs and raise incomes. If people have jobs and incomes, they will buy more phones and use them more,” he stated.
“That’s why we must invest in the four key sectors of wealth and job creation; commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT. The purchasing power per capita in Africa is still low, and to raise it, we must expand our economic base, not just operate in a narrow business sector.”
The President encouraged MTN and other investors to explore manufacturing partnerships and capitalize on Africa’s burgeoning opportunities in regional trade and industrialization.
“Finally, I encourage MTN and other investors to explore manufacturing partnerships and take advantage of Africa’s emerging opportunities in regional trade and industrialization,” he added.
Mr Museveni also reflected on MTN’s growth since its early days. “I’m glad to see how much MTN has grown. I remember when it first started; Mzee Mandela called me on a small phone. That was the beginning of MTN.”
His remarks come as MTN Uganda embarks on a three-month, nationwide network upgrade, aiming to enhance the reliability and speed of its voice, data, and mobile money services for over 22 million customers.
The upgrade, scheduled to run through July 2025, is a core part of MTN Uganda’s strategy to strengthen digital connectivity and improve customer satisfaction.
Ms. Sylvia Mulinge, CEO of MTN Uganda, highlighted the transformative impact of the upgrade, stating, “This upgrade is about transforming the daily digital experiences of millions of Ugandans.”
Mcebisi Jonas, MTN Group Chairman, expressed gratitude for the strong collaboration between MTN and the Government of Uganda.
“We are here to express our appreciation for the continued support we have received. MTN is not here for the short term—we are here for the long haul,” Jonas said.
He also highlighted the potential for strengthening trade and business links between Uganda and South Africa.
“We believe there is a real opportunity to help Ugandan businesses enter the South African market, and that is something we can explore further,” he added.
The upgrade is being implemented in phases across Uganda, with the Greater Central region receiving the most extensive improvements.
MTN Uganda has assured customers that while most work will be conducted during late-night hours to minimize disruption, occasional temporary service interruptions may occur.
This network upgrade aligns with President Museveni’s vision of expanding Uganda’s economic base and enhancing digital connectivity, contributing to the country’s overall growth and development.
