In a landmark move, Uganda’s leading telecom providers, MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda, and Uganda Telecom Ltd (UTL) have formed a strategic alliance to address the escalating vandalism of critical communications infrastructure, a threat that has crippled services and incurred substantial economic losses across the country.
The alliance, launched in collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), is a direct response to the surge in theft and destruction of telecom assets. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, operators reported over 820 incidents of cable theft, 283 cases of fuel theft, and 90 battery thefts, resulting in multiple network disruptions, many of which caused major service outages impacting mobile connectivity, financial transactions, healthcare systems, and digital education.
A Multi-Billion Shilling Problem
Vandalism has not only caused direct damage to the telecom infrastructure but also posed a serious national security and economic risk. Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo, Executive Director of UCC, labelled the acts as “economic sabotage,” urging for tougher enforcement and community vigilance.
The theft of fiber-optic cables and base station components, often targeted for their copper and high-capacity batteries has made rural and peri-urban areas especially vulnerable, where restoration times are often prolonged due to accessibility and logistical constraints.
Strategic Response: Collaboration Over Competition
The new coalition plans to implement the following measures:
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Centralized Monitoring: Establishing a shared surveillance framework using IoT-enabled sensors and drones for real-time asset monitoring.
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Legal Reform Advocacy: Pushing for stricter laws and fast-tracked prosecutions, treating infrastructure vandalism as a criminal offense akin to sabotage.
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Community Engagement: Educating the public on how vandalism affects service delivery and enlisting local leaders to champion protection of telecom assets.
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Rapid Response Teams: Forming inter-operator emergency teams to speed up recovery efforts and limit service downtimes.
A Continental Challenge
Uganda is not alone in this fight. Similar trends have been reported in Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, each grappling with telecom sabotage driven by poverty, organized crime, and insufficient regulation. However, Uganda’s collective model of action might serve as a blueprint for neighboring nations, blending private sector cooperation with government oversight.
Looking Ahead
With mobile services forming the backbone of Uganda’s economy, enabling everything from banking and business to education and public health, the integrity of telecom infrastructure has never been more critical. The united front displayed by Uganda’s telecom sector is a powerful statement: communication is a national asset, and its protection is everyone’s responsibility.
