Uganda Communications Commissions (UCC) has told telecom company Africell Uganda Limited to settle all its debts before exiting Uganda.
This week, the telecom announced its plans to exit Ugandan market after seven years, by October 7, 2021 citing difficult business environment.
In a notice dated September 8, UCC confirmed Africell’s plans but said the telecom will have to satisfy several set conditions before its planned exit.
According to the regulator, the pre-exit conditions are intended to ensure that the interests and rights of Africell’s customers, agents, employees, trade creditors and the government of Uganda are safeguarded before the exit.
The conditions which the commission says Africell has committed to satisfy include; ensuring that all customers, agents, employees and other trade creditors are paid their claims before the actual date of cessation of operation in Uganda.
“Therefore, all persons with claims against Africell are advised to immediately contact Africell to work out arrangements to settle their claims before October 7, 2021.”
The Commission further said its working with sister agencies to ensure that Africell complies with the required laws before exiting.
“The Commission assures all stakeholders that Uganda’s communication sector is resilient and attractive to local and foreign investors, and sufficient measures have been instituted to ensure that Africell’s exit does not negatively affect the stability and integrity of the communication sector in Uganda.”
Africell entered the Ugandan telecom market in 2014 after acquiring majority shares in Orange Uganda Limited.
The company which boasts of more than 3,000,000 active subscribers offering 2G, 3G and 4G network currently controls 7% of the Ugandan market share.
However, the telecom has been reportedly choking on debts in the previous months something that many believe could have triggered its decision to wind up operations in Uganda.
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