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Airtel Uganda Revenue Surges to $124 Million as Data Overtakes Voice Sales
Airtel Uganda has posted impressive financial results for the year ending December 31, 2025. The company’s profit after tax jumped by 41% to $124.3 million, which is UGX 446.8 billion. This strong growth came mainly from a big rise in data revenue and smart cost controls. As Uganda’s second-largest telecom provider, Airtel beat expectations while data sales overtook voice for the first time.
Overall revenue grew by 13.3% to $620 million, or UGX 2.23 trillion, from $548 million (UGX 1.97 trillion) in 2024. More people in Uganda are using smartphones and going digital, which shifted revenue from traditional voice calls to high-speed data services. Data income soared by over 22% to more than $306 million (UGX 1.1 trillion). In comparison, voice revenue only rose slightly to $292 million (UGX 1.05 trillion), held back by pricing limits and lower interconnection fees from the previous year.
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Soumendra Sahu, Airtel Uganda’s managing director, praised the team’s efforts. “This exceptional performance reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence,” he said. “Through our relentless focus on improving the customer experience, we have reported a 13.3% growth in revenue and a 24.5% growth in EBITDA, with margins expanding to 54.9%.” These numbers show how well the company is adapting to customer needs.
Operating profit climbed 35% to $236 million (UGX 849.2 billion), giving a solid 37.7% operating margin. EBITDA, a key measure of profitability before certain costs, reached $342 million (UGX 1.23 trillion). This was driven by better efficiency and smart operations, even as Airtel invested heavily in its network. The company added 258 new 4G sites and 164 more 5G sites during the year. By the end of 2025, every one of its network sites was 4G-enabled, and 5G coverage grew to 364 sites in major urban areas.
Customer numbers also boomed. Airtel’s total subscriber base hit 19.2 million, up nearly 14% from the year before. Data users grew even faster, by 19.6%, to 8.7 million. This reflects Uganda’s fast-moving digital shift, with more people relying on mobile internet for work, entertainment, and daily life.
On the financial side, Airtel strengthened its position. Net debt compared to EBITDA dropped to 1.5 times from 1.8 times, thanks to strong cash flow of $281 million (UGX 1.01 trillion) from operations. The board rewarded shareholders with a final dividend of UGX 3.55 per share. This makes the total payout for 2025 UGX 11.15 per share, a huge 41.5% increase.
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Hannington Karuhanga, the board chairman, highlighted the steady progress. He noted that the results stem from consistent revenue growth, tight cost management, and steady investments in network upgrades. Airtel trails only MTN as Uganda’s top telecom operator, but it’s closing the gap with these gains.
Looking ahead to 2026, Airtel plans bold moves. The company aims to speed up fibre cable expansion, roll out more 5G sites, and partner with satellite providers to reach rural areas better. Data traffic already surged 46% last year, and usage per customer rose 14.8%. These trends position Airtel at the heart of Uganda’s push for better broadband and financial services for all.
This performance underscores Airtel Uganda’s role in driving the nation’s tech growth. As more Ugandans connect online, the shift to data-led revenue signals a bright future for telecoms and digital inclusion.
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