Kampala — Satellite internet provider Starlink has blocked Uganda from accessing its global satellite network after a complaint from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), effectively disabling all Starlink terminals in the country as of January 1, 2026.
In a letter dated January 2, 2026, addressed to UCC Executive Director George William Thembo, Starlink confirmed that it had implemented what it described as a “new service restriction tool” for Uganda, resulting in a complete shutdown of Starlink services within the country.
“As a result, as of 01 January 2026, there are no Starlink terminals operating in Uganda,” wrote Ben MacWilliams, Starlink’s director of Market Access at Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
The move followed a UCC directive ordering Starlink to stop what the regulator described as the illegal provision of telecommunication services in Uganda, citing the absence of a valid operating licence.
MacWilliams stressed that Starlink Uganda is not currently selling or marketing services in the country, noting that the company has not yet been licensed by the regulator.
“To be clear, Starlink Uganda itself is not selling or marketing satellite internet services in Uganda because it is not yet licensed by the UCC,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that Starlink services had been accessed within Uganda through terminals purchased and activated in other countries where the service is authorised, before being brought into Uganda without approval.
“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,” MacWilliams said, adding that such usage was “without our approval or consent and in violation of our terms of service.”
Starlink said it had never imported or distributed terminals in Uganda and reiterated that all satellite access to the country had now been disabled.
“We reiterate that there are no Starlink terminals operating in Uganda as of 01 January 2026,” the letter stated.
The shutdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of satellite communications technology in Uganda, following a December 19, 2025 directive by the Uganda Revenue Authority restricting the importation and customs clearance of Starlink equipment and related communication hardware.
Under the directive, any importation of Starlink gadgets or associated components now requires clearance from the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force, placing the technology under direct military oversight.
The customs restriction was introduced just weeks before the January 15 elections, a period during which internet access has historically been a sensitive issue in Uganda’s electoral process.
Satellite-based services such as Starlink operate independently of national fibre and mobile networks, raising concerns among observers that their regulation or restriction could play a role in managing information flows during and after polling.
The developments also contrast with earlier signals from government leaders, including President Museveni, who last year met Starlink officials at State House, Nakasero, and publicly expressed interest in the company’s ability to extend affordable high-speed internet to rural and underserved areas.
While Starlink said it remains committed to working with Ugandan authorities to secure a licence, the immediate effect of the shutdown is that the country is now entirely blocked from the company’s satellite internet constellation.
“Starlink is committed to cooperating with the UCC's regulatory requirements as we work to complete the licensing process in Uganda,” MacWilliams said.
“We appreciate your partnership and look forward to Starlink's future in Uganda.”
As Uganda enters the final stretch before the elections, the disabling of satellite internet access has heightened debate about digital freedoms, regulatory control and the potential for broader internet restrictions during politically sensitive periods.
