• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

Smile Communications: Here is why we have not been able to operate in Uganda for the last 15 months

Stephen Kalema by Stephen Kalema
2 years ago
in Business, Technology
4 0
ShareTweetSendShare

Smile Communications Uganda, the pioneering provider of 4G LTE services in Uganda and East Africa, has explained why they have been experiencing a service outage since January 31, 2022.

The telecom company says the outage was a result of American Towers Corporation (“ATC”) disconnecting the Smile network illegally contrary to ATC’s license obligations, industry best practices, and most importantly, the well-being of the Ugandan people.

“For this, Smile wishes to sincerely apologise to its valued customers and the general public. It acknowledges that this update should have been provided earlier, however, it deemed it imperative to first await the conclusion of certain legal processes before sharing these details,” Smile said in a statement today.

“Previous to that, Smile had been involved in commercial disputes with ATC since 2018 on matters related to discriminatory pricing practices, as well as unfair and illegal power billing practices where, in Smile’s case, ATC was collecting around fifty percent more than the tariffs set by the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Uganda. These disputes were duly referred to arbitration in accordance with the underlying contracts,” they added.

According to Mr. Silvernus Okoth, the Acting Country Manager, of Smile Communications Uganda Limited, , the arbitration process, initially scheduled by both parties and the arbitrator to conclude in June 2021, extended into 2022. While the resulting award was in ATC’s favour, immediately, without any notice after the issue of the arbitral award, on January 31 2022, ATC proceeded to disconnect Smile’s sites, leading to a complete shutdown of Smile’s 4G LTE services by February 1, 2022.

“Following the disconnection, Smile pursued legal action by applying to the High Court to set aside the arbitral award. The High Court ruling, handed down on April 11 2023, granted Smile’s application and set aside the award, citing delays in the issuing of the award and concerns about the arbitrator’s partiality. To date, ATC has not appealed the ruling,” Mr. Okoth said.

“While the pre-and post-arbitral award legal processes were running their courses, Smile attempted settlement negotiations with ATC but faced unyielding inflexibility from the latter. Consequently, Smile terminated all contracts with ATC and requested the return of its equipment to resume its services with an alternative Tower partner. However, ATC has been adamant, effectively continuing to illegally and with impunity hold Smile hostage.”

Mr. Okoth added that ATC’s actions have caused significant damage to Smile’s investment in Uganda, amounting to approximately USD 120,000,000.

“ATC’s actions have not only impacted Smile’s operations, denying the consumers a credible service, but have also affected jobs and livelihoods dependent on Smile’s presence in the market. It is worth noting that nowhere in the African and/or the International Telecommunications industry have such actions been allowed, it is indeed unprecedented,” he said.

“Smile has continued with legal action against ATC, challenging their service shutdown and refusal to return its equipment. The company is committed to pursuing justice and restitution and expresses its sincere gratitude to its loyal customers and the public at large for their support throughout this process. Further updates will be provided in due course as Smile keeps hope high that once this matter is resolved, services will be restored.”


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share1Tweet1SendShare

Related Posts

Business

URA Cracks Down on Professional Enablers Fueling Tax Fraud in Uganda

1st July 2025 at 10:33
Pastor Benny Hinn, the American evangelist currently in Uganda for a three-day crusade, visited President Museveni and Maama Janet at the Nakasero State Lodge on Saturday evening.
Business

Televangelist Benny Hinn Prays for Museveni, Janet as Kampala Crusade Draws Thousands

29th June 2025 at 11:55
Business

URA Tightens Noose on Tax Evasion in Uganda’s Booming Real Estate Sector

1st July 2025 at 10:47
Next Post
STEVEN MAGOMU TANYEBWA

STEVEN MAGOMU TANYEBWA: When Ugandans learned to eat pizza on London streets

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1099 shares
    Share 440 Tweet 275
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2282 shares
    Share 913 Tweet 571
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    38 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 10
  • Pastor Bugingo Seeks Reconciliation with Teddy and Children, Prays for Makula’s Twins

    18 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 5
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    111 shares
    Share 44 Tweet 28
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

URA Cracks Down on Professional Enablers Fueling Tax Fraud in Uganda

1st July 2025 at 10:33
Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: Will Karamoja Feel the Money in the UGX 72.376 Trillion Budget of 2025/26?

1st July 2025 at 08:15

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

URA Cracks Down on Professional Enablers Fueling Tax Fraud in Uganda

1st July 2025 at 10:33
Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: Will Karamoja Feel the Money in the UGX 72.376 Trillion Budget of 2025/26?

1st July 2025 at 08:15

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda