The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has agreed to register public WiFi hotspot resellers and set up a committee to explore how they can operate legally amid a crackdown on unlicensed providers.
The decision followed a meeting on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, between UCC officials and members of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) to discuss the regulation of public WiFi hotspots across the country.
UCC Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo said the commission would establish a multi-stakeholder committee to examine possible licensing arrangements for hotspot resellers and identify a legal framework under which eligible operators could continue doing business.
The commission will also register all WiFi hotspot resellers to establish their numbers, locations, equipment types and other operational details. The information will help UCC assess the scale of the businesses and determine the appropriate regulatory measures.
The meeting followed a press conference last week at which UCC, working with licensed internet service providers and relevant government agencies, announced enforcement measures against unlicensed public WiFi operators.
Speaking on behalf of the hotspot providers, KACITA Chairperson Issa Ssekito asked UCC to suspend the enforcement deadline to allow more time for consultations.
He also asked the commission to guide operators on the licences or regulatory arrangements they need to comply with the law.
UCC says the ongoing engagements and enforcement measures are intended to ensure that public internet service providers operate within Uganda’s legal framework and meet the required standards of accountability, service quality and reliability.
