Airtel Uganda earned about Shs 1.2 billion in profit per day in 2025, underlining the scale of its growth as more Ugandans shift to digital services.
The telecom firm reported a 41.1% rise in profit after tax to Shs 446.9 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025. When you break this down, it translates to roughly Shs 37.2 billion per month or Shs 1.22 billion per day.
The company said in a statement that this strong performance was driven largely by growth in data services and tighter cost control, even as the company faced lower interconnect rates.
During the year, local interconnect rates were reduced from Shs 45 to Shs 26, cutting into traditional voice revenues across the sector.
For the first time in Uganda’s telecom industry, data revenue overtook voice revenue at Airtel. Data brought in Shs 1.1 trillion, compared with Shs 1.03 trillion from voice services.
Data revenue grew by 22.4% over the year. The increase was supported by a 19.6% rise in the number of data customers and a 14.8% increase in average usage per customer. This means more Ugandans are going online and those already connected are using more data for work, business, education and entertainment.
Overall revenue grew by 13.3% while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose by 24.5 percent.
Airtel Uganda managing director Soumendra Sahu said the results reflect sustained investment in network quality and customer experience.
“Our focus remains the delivery of outstanding services and products, always aiming for best-in-class through a unique distribution network that is close to our customers. Through this network we create value for our shareholders and the society that we are proud to be part of,” Sahu said.
He said the company remains focused on strengthening its network and expanding digital services to ensure customers enjoy reliable and affordable connectivity.
For investors on the Uganda Securities Exchange, the improved financial performance comes with higher returns. The Airtel Uganda board has recommended a final dividend of Shs 3.55 per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to Shs 11.15 per share. This represents a 41.6% increase compared with the previous year.
Despite the strong results, a significant challenge remains in closing the usage gap. Airtel said its 4G network now covers 98.9% of the population.
However, industry body GSMA has noted that although Uganda has achieved about 96% 4G population coverage, the usage gap remains high at 75 percent. This means many people live in areas with coverage but are not actively using mobile internet.
Looking ahead to 2026, the telecom firm said it plans to deepen its investment in digital infrastructure and services. The company says its goal is to make connectivity not only widely available but also secure, reliable and valuable for individuals, businesses and public institutions.
