Uganda has imposed an immediate restriction on the importation and customs clearance of Starlink satellite internet equipment and related communication devices, according to an internal memorandum shared by CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo via his Facebook page.
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) directive, dated December 19, 2025, instructs all customs officials to block the import of Starlink technology unless importers present a formal clearance or authorisation letter from the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
The memo states that the restriction takes effect immediately and applies to all Starlink gadgets, communication equipment and associated components, placing the satellite internet service under heightened security oversight just weeks before Uganda’s January general election.
The latest restriction effectively places Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite broadband service, under tighter state control at a politically sensitive moment, limiting citizens’ ability to bypass traditional telecom networks that are easier for authorities to monitor or shut down.
Starlink, Africa and the struggle for digital access
Starlink has positioned itself as a potential game-changer for internet access in Africa, particularly in countries with weak broadband infrastructure, vast rural populations and unreliable fibre networks.
The service has launched in several African markets over the past two years, promising high-speed internet delivered via low-Earth orbit satellites rather than ground-based cables.
Despite that ambition, Starlink’s expansion across Africa has been uneven and frequently delayed.
Regulatory hurdles, high equipment costs, foreign exchange constraints and resistance from local telecom operators have slowed its rollout in several countries. In some markets, governments have insisted on strict licensing regimes, local partnerships or data oversight conditions that complicate deployment.
President Yoweri Museveni’s government has long maintained a tight grip on digital spaces, arguing that internet restrictions are necessary for national security and public order.
Critics, however, say such measures are routinely used to suppress dissent, limit opposition organising and control the flow of information during politically volatile periods.