The report also notes that 37 percent of mobile phone owners possess a single phone, while 6 percent own two or more.

The 2024 National Housing and Population Census (NHPC) has revealed that 43 percent of Uganda's population aged 10 years and above now own mobile phones, amounting to roughly 13.6 million people.

This figure reflects an increase of 2.6 million users compared to the 2014 census, which recorded 49 percent of the then 34 million people owning mobile phones.

The report also notes that 37 percent of mobile phone owners possess a single phone, while 6 percent own two or more.

In addition, fixed telephone lines are present in 8 percent of households across the country.

Mobile phone ownership is significantly higher in urban areas, standing at 46 percent, compared to 41 percent in rural regions.

Ownership also differs by gender, with a higher proportion of men owning mobile phones than women, except in the Ankole sub-region, where more women than men are mobile phone users.

Sub-regionally, Buganda leads with the highest mobile phone ownership at 59 percent, followed by Ankole at 48 percent.

The Karamoja sub-region reports the lowest mobile phone penetration, with only 20 percent of individuals owning a device.

Education level strongly correlates with mobile phone ownership, rising from 27 percent among those with no formal education to 92 percent among individuals with post-secondary qualifications.

Mobile phone ownership also follows a normal age distribution, with the lowest rates among children (5 percent) and the elderly (43 percent).

These findings are aligned with Uganda's commitment to the 2030 Agenda, which aims to increase access to information and communications technology (ICT) and ensure affordable internet for all, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.