Kampala: Airtel Uganda has reported a 13.9% increase in profit after tax to Shs224.7 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2026, driven by strong growth in data services, an expanding customer base and continued focus on cost efficiency.
The company’s revenue increased by 10.2% to Shs1.1949 trillion, up from Shs1.0848 trillion recorded during the same period last year. Profit after tax increased from Shs197.2 billion in the first half of 2025 to Shs224.7 billion in the current period. Data continued to be the strongest driver of growth, with data revenue increasing by 16.1% to Shs610.6 billion, while voice revenue grew by 6.6%.
The company’s data customer base increased by 18.8% to 8.9 million, while the overall customer base grew by 10% to 19.7 million. Data usage per customer also increased by 21% to 7.2GB, while total data traffic across the network grew by 42.1%.Smartphone penetration increased by 676 basis points to 46.6%, further supporting the growing demand for mobile internet and digital services.
The performance builds on the strong results recorded in the first half of 2025, when Airtel Uganda’s profit after tax increased by 28.7% to Shs197.2 billion from Shs153.2 billion a year earlier.During the same period, revenue grew by 12.3% to Shs1.08 trillion, supported by strong growth in data services and an expanding customer base. Data revenue grew by more than 30% and emerged as the company’s largest growth driver, while voice revenue declined by 2% following the reduction in interconnect rates from Shs45 to Shs26.
As a result, voice contribution to revenue declined to 47.9% from 54.8% in the same period the previous year. A year later, the shift towards data has become more pronounced, with data now contributing 51.1% of Airtel Uganda’s service revenue, compared to 48.8% in the first half of 2025.Voice contribution, meanwhile, declined to 46%, reflecting the continued shift in customer consumption towards digital services.
The company’s Home Broadband business also recorded strong growth, with its customer base increasing by 46.5% during the period. Airtel extended broadband connectivity to more than 57,000 homes and small businesses, representing a 64% increase. Commenting on the performance, Airtel Uganda Managing Director and CEO Soumendra Sahu said the company had delivered a resilient performance despite a challenging operating environment.
“The first half of 2026 was marked by continued resilience and growing confidence in Uganda’s economy amid a challenging global environment,” Sahu said.He noted that service revenue grew by 10.9% during the period, while EBITDA increased by 13.4%, with the EBITDA margin improving to 53.9% from 52.3% a year earlier.
“Data revenue grew 16.1% on the backdrop of our strong performance in the Home Broadband segment where we strengthened our go-to-market strategy, and an 18.8% growth in Data customers for the period,” he added.
The company’s EBITDA increased to Shs643.5 billion, with the stronger performance supported by continued revenue growth and cost-efficiency measures.Operating profit increased to Shs435.1 billion from Shs379.5 billion, while profit before tax rose to Shs321.8 billion from Shs282.7 billion. Airtel Uganda continued to increase investment in its network to meet the growing demand for data and improve customer experience. The company invested Shs160.5 billion in capital expenditure during the six months, representing an 82.9% increase from Shs87.8 billion invested during the first half of 2025.
The investment supported the deployment of 494 additional 4G sites, 384 5G sites and 1,621 kilometres of fibre during the period. By June 30, all Airtel Uganda sites were 4G-enabled, while the company’s 5G network had reached 584 sites across key cities. Sahu said the continued investment in the network was aimed at improving coverage, capacity and service quality as more customers embrace digital services.“We remained focused on enhancing customer experience through broader network coverage, improved service quality and products tailored to evolving customer needs,” he said.
Airtel Uganda is also testing Direct-to-Cell satellite technology in partnership with Starlink following regulatory approval, as the company explores new ways of extending connectivity to areas that remain difficult to reach through conventional network infrastructure.
Airtel declares Shs196bn dividend
The strong financial performance has also translated into increased returns for shareholders. The Board recommended an interim dividend of Shs3.10 per share, equivalent to Shs124 billion, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.This brings the total dividend recommended for the first half of the year to Shs4.90 per share, equivalent to Shs196 billion, representing a 12.6% increase year-on-year. Airtel Uganda’s leverage also improved to 1.5 times from 1.7 times a year earlier, while leverage excluding lease liabilities declined to 0.63 times from 0.77 times.
Beyond its commercial performance, Airtel Uganda continued to support digital inclusion and national development through investments in connectivity and ICT infrastructure. In May, the company remitted Shs42.9 billion to the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), supporting efforts to expand access to communications services across Uganda.
Sahu said Airtel’s contribution to Uganda goes beyond providing telecommunications services, with the company continuing to invest in infrastructure and digital inclusion. Looking ahead, he said Airtel Uganda remains optimistic about Uganda’s economic prospects, supported by rising digital adoption, favourable demographics and continued economic growth. “We will continue to invest in network excellence, innovation and customer experience to support sustainable growth and create long-term value for all stakeholders.”
The latest results further demonstrate the continued transformation of Airtel Uganda’s business, with data services now contributing more than half of service revenue and customer growth continuing to support the company’s overall performance.
As Uganda’s demand for mobile internet, broadband and digital services continue to grow, Airtel Uganda’s continued investment in network infrastructure and customer experience is expected to remain central to its growth strategy.
