MTN Uganda’s subscriber base grew to 22.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. According to the company, the increase is due to its customer-centric approach.
Its data and fintech subscribers increased by 19.4 percent and 9.8 percent, respectively, as a result of its ongoing efforts to innovate and offer solutions for its clients.
Its data and fintech portfolios contributed more to the 13.5 percent growth in service revenue. Through cost-cutting measures, it was able to raise its EBITDA by 13.7 percent, which increased its margin by 0.4 percentage points to 52.4 percent.
MTN-Airtel’s partnership to share network infrastructure
To increase coverage and customer satisfaction, it invested a total of 118.6 billion Ush in network densification. To optimise network infrastructure, MTN Group and Airtel Africa signed network sharing agreements during the quarter.
These agreements are intended to increase its network’s cost effectiveness, broaden its geographic reach in compliance with the NTO licence requirement, and improve customer satisfaction, especially in rural areas with inadequate coverage.
Over the coming years, co-investment with Airtel Uganda will further enhance network redundancy and facilitate better capital allocation as it closes the geographic coverage gaps.
Its voice outgoing revenues for the quarter were impacted by an interim industry-wide directive from the previous year that reduced mobile termination rates (MTR) from Ush 45 to Ush 26.
The telecom company enhanced its bundle offering and service proposition to its clients, as well as its customer value management (CVM), to guarantee the resilience of its portfolio.
MTN Uganda’s investment to increase smartphone adoption
In terms of data, it made significant investments to increase smartphone adoption by making devices more affordable through its Pay Mpola Mpola program and providing subsidies for device purchases through its partners. As a result, its network saw a 9.8 percent increase in smartphone usage.
Due to a rise in banktech and peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions, it observed a higher velocity in its ecosystem for fintech, with growth in transaction volume (up to 19.9 percent) and transaction value (up 23.9 percent).
It launched the Virtual Card by MoMo, which allows its fintech customers to conduct safe online transactions, in collaboration with Mastercard, Diamond Trust Bank, and Network International to further accelerate its advanced revenue ambition.
This development is in line with its overarching goal of enabling a digital economy for everyone and demonstrates its dedication to promoting financial inclusion and improving digital accessibility throughout Uganda.
MTN Uganda’s Corporate Social Responsibility
This quarter, the company advanced projects in the pillars of youth empowerment and education through the MTN Foundation. For several underserved communities, it made investments in safe water equipment, classroom block construction, and vocational training equipment.
Additionally, it emphasised the use of computerised devices with JAWS (Job Access with Speech) software to enable digital inclusion for students with disabilities, especially those who are visually impaired.
With an Ush 1 billion investment, the MTN Foundation’s Digital Access Project will establish 11 computer labs throughout Uganda, five of which will be inclusive labs for students with hearing and vision impairments.
The company stated, “Our youth empowerment commitments focused on scholarships, capacity building, ICT skilling and entrepreneurship through our partnership with the Smart Girls Foundation.”
The MTN Foundation announced the graduation of 33 young people from the MTN Girls with Tools initiative and 250 young women from the MTN Girls in Tech program. These graduates become part of an expanding group of more than 850 young people who have received technical and digital skills training, putting them in a strong position to prosper in Uganda’s changing economy.
“We remain focused on delivering value for our customers and shareholders while driving sustainable and inclusive growth. This year’s ambition is to accelerate growth through
strategic investments to ensure superior customer experience delivery as we continue
our transformation journey from a Telco to Techo. We are confident in the resilience of
our operation to navigate these challenges as we work towards fulfilling the Ambition
2025 strategy”, the company noted.
