New Era As Parliament Adopts Bagaala, Kakande Mobile Number Portability Motion

In a revolutionary move, Parliament unanimously approved the mobile portability licensing framework motion on March 6, 2025, under the leadership of Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.

This measure, introduced by Mityana Woman MP Joyce Bagaala Ntwaatwa and seconded by Masaka City Woman MP Juliet Nakabuye Kakande, and Milton Muwuma (Kigulu South), marks a major breakthrough in Uganda’s telecommunications sector, highlighting the influence of Democratic Alliance (DA)-leaning legislators in shaping transformative policies.

The approved motion allows mobile subscribers to switch between network operators or locations without changing their phone numbers.

This enhances consumer flexibility and freedom, enabling Ugandans to select the best service provider for their needs without being tied to a specific number.

Mobile number portability (MNP) lowers the barrier for users to switch between operators, fostering competition and improving services.

It has been shown to result in faster downloads, quicker uploads, lower prices, and a more competitive market.

The unanimous approval of the motion illustrates Parliament’s dedication to consumer protection and the promotion of a fair, competitive market in the telecommunications sector.

The Democratic Alliance coordinator Mathias Mpuuga supported the motion, encouraging MPs to vote in its favor due to its benefits for Ugandans.

If enacted by the Government through the Ministry of ICT and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), mobile number portability will not be a novel concept, as many countries have already adopted it.

In Africa, countries like South Africa and Nigeria, which are arguably the continent’s largest economies, have already implemented mobile number portability, while in East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda have also embraced this framework.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa tasked Minister of State for ICT Godfrey Kabyanga with working toward the implementation of the motion.

Parliament will request an Action Taken Report from the Government at a later date to ensure progress, according to Deputy Speaker Tayebwa.

The move has been celebrated as a pro-consumer decision, aligning with global best practices in telecommunications regulations, and beyond promoting consumer protection and fair competition in the sector, consumers can expect better services, lower prices, and increased competition among service providers.