Ugandans will now require written permission from President Yoweri Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to import Starlink equipment.
The directive comes after a new restriction was imposed just 24 days before the country’s January general election.
The directive stems from an internal memorandum issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), which restricts the importation and customs clearance of Starlink satellite internet technology and related communication equipment unless importers obtain express authorisation from the Chief of Defence Forces.
The move has drawn swift public attention, both because of its proximity to the election and the unprecedented placement of control over satellite internet hardware under direct military oversight.
While authorities have not publicly linked the restriction to the election period, the decision closely mirrors President Museveni’s recently articulated stance on internet ownership and state control. Speaking at a press briefing days earlier, Museveni strongly opposed private ownership of core internet infrastructure, warning that profit-driven companies risk creating monopolies that make connectivity unaffordable for ordinary citizens.
“The internet should not be owned by private people…because when the internet is owned by business people, especially if they monopolise it, they are after money, that's why the backbone (should be) owned by the government,” Museveni said.
He emphasised that while private companies may provide services, critical transmission systems must remain under government control to protect affordability and national interests.
Museveni framed the issue within a broader national security and development context, arguing that digital infrastructure has become as strategic as conventional military assets. Drawing on his experience during Uganda’s liberation struggle, he noted how modern technology has transformed operations, making speed and precision central to both security and governance.
“For the internet, we need low-cost transmission so that it doesn’t become expensive,” the President added.
The policy position underpins Uganda’s long-standing investment in public digital infrastructure through the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) project. Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is seeking a seventh term, has consistently positioned digital connectivity as a pillar of his development agenda.
In 2024, he launched Phase V of the NBI, expanding fibre coverage by an additional 5,845 kilometres, adding to the existing 4,387 kilometres already in place. According to the President, the project aims to reduce the cost of doing business while improving access to government services, education, healthcare and digital platforms nationwide.
Viewed in this context, the new Starlink import restriction appears less a routine customs measure and more part of a wider effort to consolidate state authority over Uganda’s digital infrastructure, a move now unfolding at the intersection of technology, security and high-stakes electoral politics.