WHERE DOES OUR DATA GO? Trade Minister Tanna Grills Telecom Firms Over Vanishing Bundles, Poor Network
The concerns were raised during a meeting convened by Tanna, together with State Minister for Trade Wilson Mbadi, with telecommunications operators on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives boardroom.
KAMPALA — Trade Minister Sanjay Tanna has put telecommunications giants MTN Uganda and Airtel under scrutiny over complaints of rapidly depleting data bundles, unstable network connectivity and the affordability of communication services.
The minister wants answers from the operators following growing consumer complaints about data and airtime bundles allegedly expiring or running out before subscribers have fully utilised them.
The concerns were raised during a meeting convened by Tanna, together with State Minister for Trade Wilson Mbadi, with telecommunications operators on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives boardroom.
The meeting, attended by officials from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), followed complaints from consumers about the quality, accessibility and affordability of telecommunications services in the country.
Chaired by Tanna, the engagement focused on several issues affecting subscribers, including unreliable network connectivity, the commissioning of mobile money dealers and complaints about airtime and data bundles being depleted or expiring before customers exhaust their purchased units.
Tanna challenged the operators to address the concerns and improve service delivery, stressing the need for reliable networks and affordable communication services for Ugandans.
The ministerial meeting also examined challenges surrounding the commissioning of mobile money dealers, with operators urged to ensure that agents are properly onboarded and easily accessible to customers.
The operators were represented by Airtel’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, while UCC sent its Manager of Legal and Compliance. MTN Uganda was represented by its Manager of Brand and Communications.
In response to the concerns raised, the telecommunications companies committed to submitting a detailed report within two weeks, outlining the challenges identified and proposing measures to improve service delivery.
The meeting also resolved to bring smaller telecommunications operators on board in subsequent engagements to ensure that concerns affecting all players in the industry are considered.
The engagement comes amid persistent consumer concerns over the value subscribers get from purchased data and airtime, as well as the reliability of mobile networks.
Government says the consultations are part of efforts to strengthen consumer protection, promote fair competition and ensure that telecommunications services in Uganda are reliable, accessible and affordable.
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