Airtel Uganda has announced strong financial results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, with a 41% increase in profit after tax to US$124.3 million. A significant increase in data revenue and effective cost management primarily drives this growth.
As the second-largest telecom operator in Uganda, Airtel reported that overall revenue for the year stood at US$620 million, up 13.3% from US$548 million in 2024. The surge in smartphone usage and digital adoption led data to overtake voice services as the main source of income.
Soumendra Sahu, the managing director of Airtel Uganda, highlighted that data revenue rose by over 22% to exceed US$306 million. In contrast, voice revenue rose modestly to US$292 million, driven by pricing challenges and prior reductions in interconnection fees.
“This remarkable performance underscores our dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. By continuously enhancing the customer experience, we’ve achieved a 13.3% revenue growth and a 24.5% increase in EBITDA, with margins expanding to 54.9%,” Sahu stated.
Operating profit jumped 35% to US$236 million, resulting in a robust operating margin of 37.7%. EBITDA rose to US$342 million, bolstered by operational efficiencies and leverage, even as the company expanded its infrastructure with 258 new 4G sites and 164 additional 5G sites.
By the end of the year, all network sites had been upgraded to 4G, and 5G coverage was extended to 364 sites in major urban areas.
Customer growth remained strong, with the total subscriber base increasing to 19.2 million, representing nearly a 14% year-on-year rise. Additionally, data subscribers grew by 19.6% to reach 8.7 million, reflecting the accelerating digital transformation in Uganda.
Airtel Uganda also improved its financial position, with net debt to EBITDA decreasing to 1.5x from 1.8x, demonstrating robust cash generation of US$281 million from operations.
The Board announced a final dividend, a significant 41.5% increase.
Chairman Hannington Karuhanga noted that these results illustrate consistent revenue growth supported by prudent cost control and continuous investment in network infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Airtel Uganda intends to accelerate its fibre expansion, enhance its 5G rollout, and pursue satellite partnerships to improve rural connectivity. With data traffic increasing by 46% and per-customer usage climbing 14.8%, the operator is positioning itself to play a key role in Uganda’s broadband and financial inclusion initiatives for 2026 and beyond.
