The Uganda Revenue Authority has announced an immediate restriction on the importation and customs clearance of Starlink technology and related communication equipment, tightening state oversight over the entry of satellite-based internet hardware into the country.
In a December 19, 2025 memo addressed to all customs staff and copied to the Commissioner General, the Customs Control Department directed that any importation of Starlink gadgets, communication equipment or associated components must now be accompanied by a clearance or authorisation letter from the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force.
“This communication serves to officially notify staff about the immediate restriction on the importation and customs clearance of Starlink technology gadgets, communication equipment and associated components,” the memorandum reads.
The directive was signed by Asadu Kigozi Kisitu, who warned that the guidance takes effect immediately and that all customs staff are expected to comply fully with the new requirement.
Mr Kisitu did not indicate the reasons for the strict control of importation of the internet infrastructure.
The restriction comes several months after President Museveni met Starlink officials at State House, Nakasero, where discussions centred on the company’s proposed entry into Uganda’s telecommunications market.
During that meeting, Museveni expressed interest in Starlink’s ability to provide affordable, high-speed internet to remote and underserved areas, describing the technology as a potential solution to persistent connectivity gaps in rural Uganda.
Starlink is a satellite-based broadband internet service operated by Starlink Services, a subsidiary of the American aerospace company SpaceX.
The system uses a constellation of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet directly to user terminals on the ground, bypassing the need for extensive fiber or mobile network infrastructure.
It has been rolled out in numerous countries worldwide, particularly targeting regions with limited or unreliable internet access.
Uganda’s move to place the importation of Starlink equipment under military authorisation highlights the government’s cautious approach to satellite communications technology, which operates independently of conventional national telecom networks.
Such systems are often subject to heightened scrutiny due to their implications for national security, spectrum management and regulatory control.
The developments comes barely three weeks to the national elections slated for January 15, with internet service often seen as a key aspect of the electoral process.
While the government has publicly welcomed Starlink’s interest in Uganda, the latest customs directive suggests that regulatory and security considerations remain central to the ongoing evaluation of the company’s operations.
It remains unclear how long the restriction will remain in force or whether it forms part of broader negotiations between the Ugandan authorities and Starlink ahead of any formal market entry.
For now, importers seeking to bring Starlink equipment into Uganda will be required to obtain explicit clearance from the Chief of Defence Forces before their goods can be processed by customs.