In a letter dated January 2, Director of Market Access at Space Exploration Technologies Corp, Ben MacWilliams, said that UCC raised concerns about the illegal use of Starlink satellite internet services in Uganda.
MacWilliams clarified that Starlink does not sell or market its services in Uganda since it is not licensed, but it is used through affiliates in countries where Starlink is authorised.
“Starlink underscores that any individuals who were operating Starlink terminals in Uganda prior to 01 January 2026 had purchased and activated the terminals in countries where Starlink is live and authorized, but then illegally imported them into your country,” he said.
“Any Starlink usage in Uganda was without our approval or consent and in violation of our terms of service. Starlink Uganda has never imported or distributed terminals in Uganda.”
He therefore stated that Starlink has implemented a new service restriction tool for Uganda, and they will remain committed to cooperating with the UCC’s regulatory requirements as it works to complete the licensing process in Uganda.
The matter, however, has raised concerns about the freedom to access internet services in the country ahead of national elections scheduled for January 15, 2025.
Top opposition leader and presidential seat contender Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has called for the reactivation of Starlink’s internet services to pave the way for a free electoral process.
Bobi wrote to Starlink’s boss, Elon Musk — Starlink is owned by SpaceX, founded and led by Musk — to rescind the decision ahead of Uganda’s definitive polls.
“…here in Uganda, your @Starlink has disabled citizens’ access to its internet just days to the January 15th election in which we seek to peacefully end Museveni’s 40-year-old dictatorship!” he wrote on X.
He claimed that Museveni has adopted a dictatorial rule, which he has used to muffle free expression and allegedly engaged in human rights violations, among them mass killings, brutally persecuting the opposition, and suppressing citizens’ rights.
“Please reactivate Starlink internet access in Uganda so that citizens can be able to communicate and stand a fair chance at shaping their destiny. Democracy dies in darkness,” he said.
Activists and opposition members have expressed fears that the government will shut down the internet during the election as it did during the last vote in 2021.
Many of them seek to oust President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who is looking to extend his 40-year rule at the helm of the country.
Democratic rights have been eroding across the region, with thousands reportedly killed by security forces in Tanzania during and after an election in October in which all the main opposition candidates were disqualified.
By Moses Kinyanjui
