Fibre-to-the-Home to Drive Uganda’s Digital Economy – Liquid CEO

By Hason Mutunzi

Uganda’s journey towards a fully digital economy is gaining momentum as fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity becomes central to transforming access, innovation, and inclusion. This is according to Michael Mukasa, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Uganda, who believes that expanding fibre access to homes and businesses will be a key driver of economic growth in the years ahead.

Currently, Uganda’s internet penetration stands at about 28 percent, leaving most of its 50.7 million citizens without reliable digital access. Mukasa says that this gap presents a massive opportunity for both the public and private sectors to collaborate in building high-speed, affordable, and sustainable internet infrastructure.

“Connectivity today is no longer a luxury. It is the foundation of opportunity,” Mukasa said. “Fibre-to-the-home enables remote work, online education, e-commerce, and digital entrepreneurship. It’s the bridge between aspiration and achievement.”

He explained that fibre technology has a proven impact on economic development globally, but Uganda faces key structural challenges that must be addressed — notably, the absence of an open-access infrastructure model. Without this, multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) continue to lay duplicate fibre cables along the same routes, increasing costs and delaying rollout.

Mukasa called for greater infrastructure sharing and joint investment models, especially in rural areas where over 72 percent of Ugandans live. “When several ISPs pool resources and share infrastructure, rural fibre rollout becomes more practical and affordable,” he noted.

He added that strong regulatory frameworks and public-private partnerships are essential to ensure fairness, transparency, and effective implementation.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, one of the continent’s leading digital infrastructure providers, has been at the forefront of expanding fibre networks across East Africa. In Uganda, the company recently upgraded its fibre link between Kenya and Uganda, enhancing cross-border data capacity and reliability.

Mukasa said Liquid’s vision goes beyond connectivity to include value-added digital services such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, and managed IT solutions for small and medium-sized businesses — the backbone of Uganda’s economy.
“No single player can close Uganda’s digital divide alone,” he emphasized. “We must work together — government, regulators, private companies, and development partners — to build an inclusive and future-ready digital ecosystem.”
As Uganda deepens its investment in digital infrastructure, industry experts say that fibre-to-the-home will not only boost internet speeds but also fuel innovation, trade, and education — unlocking the next phase of Uganda’s digital transformation.