The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has given unlicensed Wi-Fi hotspot operators seven days to remove their routers or risk having the equipment seized and destroyed.
UCC Executive Director George William Nyombi-Thembo announced the directive today at UCC House in Bugolobi, Kampala, alongside plans to work with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to restrict the importation of telecommunications equipment by unlicensed operators.
The commission estimates that illegal internet reselling costs the government Sh148 billion annually in lost tax revenue, with approximately 4,000 unlicensed hotspot providers operating across the country.
The operators reportedly purchase internet services from licensed providers and resell them to customers without authorisation, a practice UCC says undermines tax compliance and consumer protection.
Nyombi-Thembo warned that enforcement would begin after the seven-day deadline, adding that equipment seized from non-compliant operators could be destroyed with court approval.
However, UCC is scheduled to meet hotspot operators on Friday to explore the possibility of forming a company that could qualify for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence, allowing them to continue operating legally.
The proposed engagement is expected to provide a pathway for operators to regularise their businesses while complying with the country’s telecommunications regulations.
By Ben Musanje
14th Oct 2026
END