https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

MTN Uganda secures 12-year licence renewal after paying $100m fee

3rd July 2020

By: John Muchira

Creamer Media Correspondent

     

Font size: - +

Telecoms giant MTN Uganda has resolved a protracted dispute with the Uganda government, a development that will see its operating licence renewed for 12 years.

The company announced the conclusion of negotiations with the Uganda government for the renewal of its second national operator licence, which expired in October 2018 but has been on ice over disagreements on licence fees and taxes.

“MTN has fulfilled all conditions precedent to the licence, including the payment of a total sum of $100-million as a licence renewal fee for a period of 12 years, commencing July 1, 2020,” said the company in a statement.

MTN has been in licence renewal negotiations with authorities in the East African nation for about two years, after its 20-year licence expired in October 2018 but was variously extended to accommodate the conclusion of the negotiations.

MTN Uganda’s struggle to renew its licence began after Uganda President Yoweri Museveni criticised the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for offering MTN Uganda a ten-year licence for “half the fee”.

The UCC fee was set on the understanding that the company had committed to investing about $200-million in the country.

Uganda has also been pushing MTN to list at least 20% of its shareholding on the Uganda Securities Exchange to offer Ugandans an opportunity to own part of the company, a subsidiary of the Johannesburg-listed MTN Group.

MTN Uganda is the largest telecoms company in Uganda, with its 12.6-million subscribers equating to a 55% market share.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Latest News

Typical Engen garage
Tribunal approves Vitol’s buyout of Engen
Updated 1 hour 31 minutes ago By: Darren Parker

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Rio-Carb
Rio-Carb

Our Easy Access Chute concept was developed to reduce the risks related to liner maintenance. Currently, replacing wear liners require that...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 19 April 2024
Magazine round up | 19 April 2024
19th April 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.07 0.131s - 137pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now