The cheap WiFi hotspots that many students rely on in hostels and around campus could soon go dark, after the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) gave unlicensed operators seven days to take down their equipment before a nationwide crackdown begins.
UCC Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo announced the operation on Tuesday, October 13. Once the deadline passes, he said, UCC teams will identify and dismantle illegal installations across the country and seize routers and related equipment. Anything that cannot be brought into compliance will be destroyed in line with the law.
The announcement follows recent police raids on WiFi hotspot operators in parts of Kampala, in which routers and other equipment were removed. UCC said at the time that it was not behind those raids. This time, the regulator will lead the operation itself.
For students in hostel neighbourhoods such as Kikoni, Wandegeya, Banda and Kansanga, where pay-as-you-go WiFi is often cheaper than mobile data bundles, the move could mean higher internet costs during the semester.
Why UCC is cracking down
Thembo gave three main reasons for the operation.
Safety. Some operators have mounted routers on electricity poles and telecom infrastructure without permission. He said this puts installers at risk of electrocution and can get in the way of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) maintenance crews.
Security. He said the hotspots operate outside the subscriber registration and lawful interception systems that licensed providers must follow, which he argued exposes users and the country to avoidable risks.
Imports. UCC is also working with the Uganda Revenue Authority to stop unlicensed operators from bringing in telecommunications equipment.
Take it down, keep it
Thembo urged operators to remove their equipment voluntarily. Those who do can keep it, he said, while UCC works on possible compliance options for the sector, which he suggested could later favour operators who cooperated.
He acknowledged that many operators are young people trying to earn a living. “We are regulators with a human face,” he said.
However, he warned that equipment UCC teams pull down after the deadline will not be returned. Since the commission has no space to store it, it plans to seek court permission to destroy it.
What it means for you
If your hostel or neighbourhood WiFi is run by an unlicensed operator, service could be cut off once enforcement starts, likely from next week. Check with your provider whether it is licensed by UCC, and keep a mobile data backup for coursework and online classes.
Do you use hostel WiFi? How would the crackdown affect you? Tell us. @campusbee.ug
