MTN Group strategises in Kampala while thanking government for its support

May 13, 2025 in Business, Technology & Telecoms by Editor

MTN Group recently held its annual Chairmen’s Forum in Uganda to reflect on its strategic progress, strengthen alignment, and advance the Group’s ambition to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress.

Currently, the Group operations serve 291 million subscribers in 16 markets. Holding the Forum in Kampala was also a show of appreciation to the Uganda government for its continued support to the local subsidiary during the past three and a half decades. MTN Uganda is the dominant mobile network with about 48% of the market share or some 20 million subscribers.

Paying a courtesy visit to President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe, Mcebisi Jonas, MTN Group Chairman said, “We just came today to say thank you very much for the support you have always given us. We have had excellent collaboration from the regulators, and MTN is not here for the short term—we are here for the long haul.”

Museveni welcomed MTN’s continued investment and emphasised the importance of targeting sectors that generate employment and expand the economy.

He said, “If people have jobs and incomes, they will buy more phones and use them more. That’s why we must invest in the four key sectors of wealth and job creation: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.”

He encouraged MTN to explore cross-border investment as a means of promoting regional integration and intra-African trade. Also in attendance were senior government ministers and officials from the ICT Ministry and Finance along with those from the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Uganda holds a distinct place in MTN’s history as the first country outside South Africa where the Group secured a telecommunications licence. Granted in 1998, this licence marked the beginning of MTN’s international expansion, laying the foundation for what would become one of Africa’s leading digital infrastructure and platform businesses. Today, MTN Uganda stands as one of the Group’s most important markets, commercially and developmentally.

Jonas cited MTN’s interest in strengthening trade and business linkages between Uganda and South Africa, and highlighted the Group’s broader capacity to support national development.

He said, “We believe there is real opportunity to help Ugandan businesses enter the South African market, and that is something we can explore further.”