Kampala, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially granted permission to Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, to begin operations in Uganda.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday, April 29, following a high-level meeting held the previous day at State House, Nakasero, between President Museveni and representatives from Starlink.
Present at the meeting were Ben MacWilliams and Brandi Oliver from Starlink, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, and U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, William Popp.
President Museveni welcomed Starlink’s entry, praising the company’s efforts to provide low-cost internet to underserved and remote areas of Uganda.
“I appreciate their commitment to providing low-cost internet in hard-to-reach areas and establishing a presence in Uganda. They are welcome,” the President said.
Starlink’s African Expansion
Starlink is now active in 19 African countries, including:
✅ Kenya (since July 2023)
✅ Nigeria, where it became the second-largest ISP within two years
✅ Mozambique, Rwanda, Malawi, and others
Pricing in Kenya
| Item | Original Price (2023) | Current Price (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Terminal Kit | ~$650 (Ksh 89,000) | ~$330 (Ksh 45,500) |
| Monthly Subscription | ~$45 (Ksh 6,500) | ~$10 (Ksh 1,300) |
Market Performance in Africa
Kenya
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Held 1.1% of fixed data market share (Sept. 2024), up from 0.5% in June 2024.
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Trails major players like Safaricom (36.1%) and Jamii Telecom (23.6%).
Nigeria
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65,564 subscribers (Sept. 2024), up from 23,897 in Dec. 2023.
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Now second-largest ISP, behind Spectranet (105,441 users).
Challenges in South Africa
Starlink faces hurdles in Elon Musk’s home country, where regulators demand:
30% local equity ownership (for black, women, youth, and disabled stakeholders) before licensing.
Starlink aims to enter 15 more African markets in 2025, further solidifying its presence on the continent.
