American Tower Corporation (ATC) Uganda has contributed UGX 20.9 billion (approximately US$5.7 million) to the Uganda Communications Commission as its statutory 2% of annual gross revenue. The funds support the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), which finances connectivity projects in underserved communities.
The handover took place on July 30, 2026, at UCC headquarters in a ceremony attended by Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance Joyce Ssebugwawo, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo and ATC Uganda CEO Dorothy Ssemanda. Under Uganda’s communications licensing framework, half of the contribution goes to the Consolidated Fund while the remainder is retained by the UCC to finance UCUSAF projects and related digital-skills initiatives.
Ssebugwawo described the payment as evidence of public-private collaboration needed to advance Uganda’s digital transformation. Thembo noted that the levy has become an important source of funding for infrastructure, internet access and digital literacy programmes in areas where commercial investment alone is insufficient.
ATC Uganda operates as a shared telecommunications infrastructure provider, building and upgrading towers that mobile operators use to extend coverage. CEO Dorothy Ssemanda said the company’s mission is to enable connectivity: “Every tower we build and every site we upgrade supports operators in extending communications services closer to communities, businesses, schools and health facilities across Uganda.” The firm has also invested in solar power and battery systems to reduce diesel dependence at its sites.
UCUSAF is designed to bridge gaps that pure commercial deployment leaves behind hard-to-reach rural areas, schools, health facilities and communities where returns on infrastructure investment remain low. The annual 2% contribution from licensed operators, including tower companies, provides a predictable revenue stream for those projects.
While the payment is a regulatory requirement rather than a voluntary donation, the scale of the contribution and the public ceremony underscore the role tower companies play in Uganda’s connectivity agenda. How effectively the funds translate into new sites, improved coverage and measurable digital inclusion will determine the practical impact of this year’s allocation.
