KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s communications regulator has challenged government agencies and private sector organisations to accelerate the adoption of internet services, warning that expanding connectivity will have limited impact unless businesses make effective use of digital technology.
Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo said the arrival of satellite internet provider Starlink had widened the options available to organisations seeking reliable connectivity, including those operating in remote areas.
He argued that institutions could no longer use the absence of conventional network infrastructure as a reason for remaining offline, as satellite technology offered alternative ways of accessing internet services.
Nyombi said the government had a responsibility to ensure that internet services were not only accessible but also reliable, while businesses needed to embrace digital tools to improve their operations and communication.
He identified the pace of adoption, particularly among businesses, as a major concern, arguing that the benefits of expanding internet infrastructure would depend on how effectively organisations integrated connectivity into their daily activities.
Digital technology, he said, was changing how organisations conduct business and report their performance. When properly deployed, it could improve operational efficiency, streamline reporting and strengthen the communication of organisational results.
Starlink partnerships expand Uganda’s connectivity options
Uganda’s connectivity landscape has gained additional options through partnerships involving Starlink and the country’s major telecommunications operators.
Airtel Uganda launched a satellite-to-mobile service in September 2026 through its partnership with Starlink. The service allows customers with compatible smartphones to remain connected beyond conventional mobile network coverage, supporting SMS and selected light-data applications, including WhatsApp messaging.
MTN Uganda, meanwhile, announced an enterprise partnership with Starlink in August 2026 to extend satellite-enabled connectivity to businesses and institutions operating in remote and underserved areas.
The two arrangements demonstrate different ways satellite technology can complement existing telecommunications infrastructure, particularly where extending conventional networks is difficult or expensive.
Starlink’s entry into Uganda followed the signing of an operational licence agreement with the UCC in May 2026, providing a regulatory framework for its operations in the country.
Nyombi’s remarks came during the 2026 Financial Reporting (FiRe) Awards organised by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) in Kampala on November 4.
The event was held under the theme, Driving Sustainability Reporting through Technology and Innovation, highlighting the growing importance of digital systems in strengthening corporate transparency and accountability.
Organisations urged to prepare for sustainability reporting rules
Nyombi also called on organisations to begin adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards ahead of Uganda’s phased mandatory implementation, which starts in 2028.
The standards are intended to improve how organisations disclose sustainability-related risks and opportunities, giving investors, lenders and development partners more reliable information when assessing businesses and making investment decisions.
ICPAU President CPA Timothy Ediomu similarly urged organisations to embrace technology, innovation and early adoption, saying stronger sustainability disclosures would improve accountability and investor confidence.
The institute’s implementation roadmap provides for voluntary adoption from accounting periods beginning January 1, 2026, allowing organisations to build the systems and capacity required to meet the new reporting obligations.
Mandatory adoption will begin on January 1, 2028, for listed entities, financial institutions, insurers and reinsurers, as well as government business entities applying IFRS Accounting Standards.
The next phase, beginning January 1, 2029, will cover retirement benefit schemes, savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs), large companies and other public interest entities. Small and medium-sized enterprises will be required to adopt the standards from January 1, 2030.
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The phased approach is intended to give organisations time to strengthen internal reporting systems, collect relevant sustainability data and prepare for compliance.
Dickson Ssembuya, Director of Research and Market Development at the Capital Markets Authority, also commended listed companies that had already embraced sustainability reporting.
He said transparent reporting was important not only for companies seeking to raise capital but also for demonstrating their impact on communities and the wider environment.
Pearl Bank takes top honour at 2026 FiRe Awards
At the awards ceremony, Pearl Bank Uganda Limited emerged as the overall top performer, winning the Gold Award for Integrated Report of the Year after also securing recognition in the Banking Services – Tier I category.
The recognition highlighted the bank’s performance in financial reporting, transparency, accountability and corporate governance, with its integrated report providing stakeholders with a broader picture of its financial performance, strategy and sustainability commitments.
MTN Uganda received the Sustainability Reporting Award for its disclosures and efforts to incorporate environmental, social and governance considerations into its reporting.
The FiRe Awards are organised by ICPAU in partnership with the Capital Markets Authority and the Uganda Securities Exchange. They recognise organisations demonstrating excellence in financial reporting, corporate governance, sustainability disclosures and the presentation of organisational performance.
The awards cover public and private sector institutions, as well as non-profit organisations, with recognition spread across multiple reporting categories and special awards.
The 2026 edition continued the initiative’s wider objective of encouraging organisations to improve the quality of their annual reports and strengthen public and investor confidence through credible disclosures.
