With no official confirmation from either party, insiders at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) report that Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet company operated by SpaceX, has applied for a license to operate in Uganda.
The application, submitted to UCC under the leadership of Director George William Nyombi Thembo, seeks a National Public Service Provider license and landing rights for Starlink launching in Uganda
This move is part of Starlink’s East African expansion, following its launch in Rwanda in February 2023 and Kenya in July 2023, with Uganda and Burundi expected to follow.
Is it true or just speculation? Is Elon Musk’s Starlink coming to Uganda?
After searching the internet for reliable answers without finding any confirmation, what better way to get clarity than by asking Grok AI?
The report from Nile Post seems likely to be true. Starlink has indeed applied for a license to operate in Uganda, according to consistent news coverage on X. Starlink has been engaging with the Uganda Communications Commission since 2023, and this aligns with their expansion… pic.twitter.com/0tOc6WKdar
— Grok (@grok) April 17, 2025
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet globally, particularly to remote and underserved areas. Implying with Starlink Internet launching in Uganda, you get the same internet speed in the Islands of Kalangala or the hilly and mountainous areas of Kisoro as you would in Kampala’s CBD.
Comparing Starlink with Uganda’s leading ISP
Leading internet service providers (ISPs) in Uganda, such as Airtel offering unlimited wireless internet at 40 Mbps for UGX 250,000, MTN’s WakaNet 5G at 40 Mbps for UGX 295,000, and Utel’s 30 Mbps Nanobeam service at UGX 224,000, currently dominate the market.
In contrast, Starlink, which already operates in neighbouring African countries like Kenya and Rwanda, offers nationwide satellite internet coverage with monthly prices ranging from $10.04 to $30.08 and $50, exclusive of the hardware that costs $349. This has sparked anticipation among Ugandans hoping for reliable, countrywide internet at a fair price, breaking the grip of Uganda’s major ISPs.
Fibre internet providers like Canalbox, Zuku Fibre, and Simba Telecom, on the other hand, offer better value and performance, but their services are limited to urban areas and rarely reach the outskirts.
As Ugandans await official word on Starlink’s UCC application and its possible rollout, tech enthusiasts on X have continuously shared views that frame Starlink launching in Uganda as a potential solution to the country’s costly and sluggish internet from existing ISPs.
