Hello, my people! Let’s talk about big money moves. The big telecommunications company, MTN Uganda, has just given a lot of money to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). This is not a gift; it’s what the law says they must do because of their license to operate in the country.
This year, MTN gave a total of UGX 50.55 billion. You know what that is? It’s 2% of all the money they made in the last year. This amount is even bigger than what they gave last year, which was UGX 42.5 billion. It shows that MTN’s business is growing very well.
It’s not just MTN. The law says that all the other licensed telecom companies in Uganda must also pay 2% of all the money they make every year to the UCC. This rule makes sure that these companies help the government to improve communication for everyone in the country.
So, where does this money go?
This money is not for one person’s pocket. It is used for a very big purpose. Half of the money (that is, 1%) goes to the Consolidated Fund, which is like the government’s main bank account. The government uses this money to run different things in the country.
The other half (the other 1%) stays with the UCC and goes into a special account called the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF). This fund is very important because it helps the government bring communication services to places where they are not available. This is mostly in villages and remote areas that big companies might not care to go to because there is no big profit for them there.
The main goal is to make sure every Ugandan, no matter where they live, can get access to things like mobile networks, internet, and radio.
MTN’s contribution shows that the company is not only following the law but is also supporting the government’s plans to make Uganda a digital country. The UCC uses the money from UCUSAF to build new masts for phone network, put internet in schools and health centers, and also teach people how to use digital devices. All these efforts are helping to close the gap between people in the city and those in the village, making sure everyone can get the benefits of better technology.
As Uganda continues to move towards becoming a digitally strong nation, these kinds of contributions from companies like MTN Uganda are very important. They help pay for the things needed to keep everyone connected and involved in the country’s economic and social growth.
