Uganda's digital economy is growing at an unprecedented rate, with new statistics showing 44.3 million active mobile subscriptions, 34.6 million mobile money accounts, and 17.6 million smartphones in use as of June 2025.
The data, unveiled at the State of the Digital Economy forum organized by Next Media in collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), highlights the country’s increasing reliance on technology across sectors such as payments, education, commerce, and service delivery. UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo emphasized that mobile internet now reaches 75 percent of Uganda’s adult population, calling the digital economy “a force multiplier for everything society does.”
However, Thembo acknowledged that smartphone affordability remains a significant hurdle, noting ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Finance to lower costs and improve access. Under the theme “Making the Digital Economy Work for All,” the forum stressed that digital growth must be actively managed.
Experts advocated for stronger policy frameworks, affordable infrastructure, and enhanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard users as Uganda continues to embrace digital platforms for transactions, communication, and education.