Technology & InnovationThe Big Story

From Celtel to 40 Million Lines: The Rise of Uganda’s Trillion-Shilling Telecom Empire Over Three Decades In 1993, Uganda had just 30,000 phone lines. Today, there are over 40 million. This explainer unpacks how Uganda transitioned from telecom stagnation to mobile boom, highlighting service expansion, bold reforms, competitive market dynamics, and the performance of major telecom providers.

In the heart of Kampala’s busy central business district, the rhythm of modern life pulses through the fingertips of Gen Z digital influencers and their smartphones. At concerts, fashion shows, or corporate events, they glide through a stream of apps on sleek, glass-encased smartphones—devices that have become more command centers than mere phones. With a tap, the internet brings real-time social updates to life, AI tools polish photos before they’re posted, and mobile wallets handle everything from splitting bills to paying Uber fares. Now rewind to 1993, just three decades earlier. In the same city, another young Ugandan was perhaps…

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About the Author

Paul Murungi is a Ugandan Business Journalist with extensive financial journalism training from institutions in South Africa, London (UK), Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda. His coverage focuses on groundbreaking stories across the East African region with a focus on ICT, Energy, Oil and Gas, Mining, Companies, Capital and Financial markets, and the General Economy.

His body of work has contributed to policy change in private and public companies.

Paul has so far won five continental awards at the Sanlam Group Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism in Johannesburg, South Africa, and several Uganda national journalism awards for his articles on business and technology at the ACME Awards.

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