Uganda has imposed immediate restrictions on the importation of satellite internet equipment operated by Elon Musk’s Starlink, requiring military authorisation for customs clearance, the country’s revenue authority said, tightening state oversight over satellite-based communications technology weeks before national elections.
In a memorandum dated December 19, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) instructed customs officers to block the importation and clearance of Starlink gadgets and related communications equipment unless accompanied by written authorisation from the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force.
“This communication serves to officially notify staff about the immediate restriction on the importation and customs clearance of Starlink technology gadgets, communication equipment and associated components,” the memo said.
The directive, signed by Asadu Kigozi Kisitu of the Customs Control Department, took effect immediately and applies to all ports of entry. No explanation was provided for the move.
The restriction comes months after President Yoweri Museveni held talks with Starlink representatives at State House in Nakasero, where the government publicly welcomed the company’s interest in entering Uganda’s telecommunications market.
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At the time, Museveni described satellite internet as a potential solution to long-standing connectivity gaps in rural and underserved parts of the country, where broadband penetration remains limited and mobile network coverage uneven.
Starlink is a satellite-based broadband service operated by Starlink Services, a subsidiary of US aerospace company SpaceX, founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The system relies on a constellation of thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet directly to user terminals, bypassing traditional fibre and mobile network infrastructure.
The service has been rolled out across dozens of countries, including several in Africa, and is often marketed as a solution for remote regions where conventional networks are costly or difficult to deploy.
Uganda’s decision to place Starlink equipment under military authorisation underscores the sensitivity surrounding satellite communications, which operate independently of national telecom infrastructure and can be harder for governments to monitor or regulate.
Such systems are frequently subject to heightened scrutiny globally due to concerns over national security, spectrum management, regulatory oversight and data sovereignty, particularly in countries with tightly controlled communications environments.
The move also comes less than a month before Uganda’s general elections scheduled for January 15, a period during which internet access has historically attracted heightened attention. In past election cycles, authorities have imposed social media restrictions or internet slowdowns, citing security concerns.
While the government has not linked the Starlink import restriction to the upcoming vote, analysts say satellite internet services could complicate efforts to control digital communications during politically sensitive periods.
“Satellite-based connectivity reduces the state’s ability to regulate traffic through conventional telecom channels,” said a Kampala-based technology policy analyst, who asked not to be named. “That alone is enough to trigger caution from security agencies, especially during elections.”
The URA directive suggests that regulatory and security considerations remain unresolved despite earlier high-level engagement between Ugandan authorities and Starlink officials.
It remains unclear whether the restriction is temporary, part of broader negotiations over licensing and regulatory compliance, or a precondition for Starlink’s formal entry into the Ugandan market.
Uganda’s telecommunications sector is regulated by the Uganda Communications Commission, which requires service providers to obtain operating licences and comply with national spectrum and security regulations. No public statement has been issued by the regulator regarding Starlink’s licensing status.
For now, importers seeking to bring Starlink equipment into Uganda must secure explicit clearance from the Chief of Defence Forces before their goods can be processed by customs, effectively placing satellite internet hardware under military oversight.
Neither Starlink nor SpaceX has publicly commented on the restriction.
