Uganda

Mobile networks and carriers in Uganda use 2 GSM bands, 1 UMTS band, and 3 LTE bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work in Uganda. See the tables below for details.

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Uganda's mobile network has undergone significant development over the years. The country's mobile penetration has grown steadily, with mobile subscriptions reaching nearly seven SIM cards for every ten Ugandans by the first quarter of 2021, according to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). This growth is attributed to the increasing availability of mobile services, with 2G networks covering nearly the entire population and mobile broadband networks (3G/4G) covering more than 80% of the country.

Historically, Uganda's mobile network development began with the introduction of mobile services in the 1990s. The number of landlines significantly declined in recent years, while the spread of cell phones increased, with 70 cell phone subscriptions per 100 people as of the last count. By 2022, there were 33.07 million mobile phone connections, representing an average of 0.70 mobile phones per person, which is lower compared to the United States where the average is 1.1 mobile phones per person.

The mobile internet in Uganda has also seen growth, with mobile internet download speeds averaging 30.14 Mbit/second, placing Uganda 85th in the international comparison. The upload speed was around 12 Mbit, ranking 75th globally. Mobile money services have been particularly impactful, with mobile money accounts rising to 30.5 million by March 2021, and 66% of these accounts were active, significantly contributing to financial inclusion in the country.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including the impact of social media and internet taxes, which have been criticized for negatively affecting mobile penetration and social networking use. Additionally, internet freedom in Uganda remains a concern, with restrictions on networks, websites blocked, and users arrested for their online activities.

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Carriers

Name	# of frequency bands in use
Africell	4
Airtel	2
MTN	3
Uganda Telecom	2
Warid	4

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Frequencies in use

GSM

Name	Interface
900 MHz (E-GSM)	GSM
1800 MHz (DCS)	GSM

UMTS

Name	Interface
B1 (2100 MHz)	UMTS

LTE

Name	Interface
B3 (1800 MHz +)	LTE
B7 (2600 MHz)	LTE
B20 (800 MHz DD)	LTE

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