Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB

@Bbossa

Head Public and International Relations at https://t.co/c3adHsOw6O| A proponent of Socially Responsible business practices | Tweets reflect personal views

[email protected] Katılım Kasım 2013

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·4h

THE SOUL OF UGANDA GOES DIGITAL! At Bulange, Mengo, the Katikkiro of the Buganda Kingdom, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga (@cpmayiga), and Hon. Nyombi Thembo (@UCC_ED) launched the Ataakulaba Akunyooma concert to digitise the legendary Kadongo Kamu sound! Following the digital transformation roadmap, our heritage now spans generations. Culture meets code: let the iconic beats live on!

UCC@UCC_Official

The Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (@UCC_ED), Hon. Nyombi Thembo, today led a UCC delegation to Bulange, Mengo, to pay a courtesy visit to the Katikkiro of @BugandaKingdom_, Owek. (@cpmayiga), and formally present the upcoming Ataakulaba Akunyooma Heritage Music Concert. In his remarks, Hon. Nyombi said the initiative is intended to preserve and promote Kadongo Kamu music while embracing digitisation to ensure Uganda's musical heritage remains accessible to future generations. He added that the concert is envisioned as an annual celebration of Uganda's cultural legacy, recognising pioneers whose contributions continue to inspire today's creative industry. #AtaakulabaAkunyooma #KadongoKamu

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·8h

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·1d

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·4d

Dear Akol @Akolkowski Thank you for raising this concern. It's a fair question, as consumers are the heartbeat of the communications sector. Without them, there would be no services to regulate and no industry to grow. Consumer protection is, in fact, one of @UCC_Official's core responsibilities under the Uganda Communications Act. Beyond engaging operators and other sector players, the Commission exists to promote and safeguard consumers' interests, handle complaints, educate the public, and ensure Ugandans receive quality communications services. UCC also hosts consumer-focused engagements, including the annual Communications Consumer Parliament, which brings together consumers, service providers, and regulators to discuss issues affecting communications services. These engagements are complemented by regional consumer outreach campaigns, consumer education programmes, and an accessible complaints-handling system that provides consumers with a direct channel to seek redress. We understand that expectations are rising, and that's a good thing. It reminds us that consumers want to be more involved, more informed, and more heard. We welcome that challenge, as strengthening consumer engagement is central to our work.

Akol@Akolkowski

@UCC_Official When are you hosting consumers? They are also stakeholders in the communications sector. All those you mentioned are here because of them. And isn't it prudent that consumer protection be handed over to a different gov't agency or given you're too besotted with them?

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UCC@UCC_Official·4d

When operators compete fairly, they invest more in better networks, bring new services, and work hard to improve quality and coverage. The Uganda Communications Commission supports this by ensuring transparent licensing, fair operational rules, and a stable regulatory environment. This approach encourages innovation, expands connectivity to more communities, and creates opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs. In the end, a strong and competitive market helps Uganda build a more inclusive and vibrant digital economy that works for everyone. #ConnectedUg2030 | #DigitalUganda @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC @Bbossa

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·6d

UGANDA'S PUBLIC WI-FI REVOLUTION JUST MET ITS RULEBOOK! Many connect daily through hotspots, powering dreams and livelihoods. @UCC_Official's enforcement isn't punishment; it's protection of consumers, investors, and innovators alike. The compliance door is wide open. A licence is your passport into Uganda's formal digital economy, where consumers, entrepreneurs, and government all win together! #ConnectedUg2030 #DigitalUganda

Hon. Nyombi Thembo@UCC_ED

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

Eeeeh! Kasima, Tokubye nnyo! We hear you, and I respect your honesty. Uganda doesn't need good English alone; it needs solutions that improve people's lives. That's exactly what we should all strive for. Our duty is to listen, learn, and make decisions that protect Ugandans while creating opportunities for them to thrive. We may not agree on every approach, but our commitment is to serve the people of Uganda with fairness, humility, and the country's long-term interests at heart.

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Kasima Nelson-KANEL@KanelKasima·9 Tem

@Bbossa @peterabwooli Ekizibu Kya Uganda, bebantu Abogera Good English Like you, Well Educated But having nothing that Helps Uganda as a country.

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·9 Tem

Dear Atugonza @peterabwooli We recognise that these hotspots have helped many Ugandans access affordable internet and created income opportunities for young people. That reality is not being ignored. However, buying internet for personal use and commercially providing internet services to the public are not the same. Once internet is resold to the public for a fee, it becomes a regulated communications service with legal obligations to protect consumers, secure personal data, maintain service quality, and ensure accountability. This is why @UCC_Official is acting, not to protect any particular operator, but to uphold the law and protect the public. At the same time, we continue to encourage more affordable internet products and remain open to engaging on lawful models that expand connectivity, support entrepreneurship, and advance Uganda's digital transformation. Affordable internet and innovation are goals we all share, but they must grow within a framework that every Ugandan can trust. #Tulinamwe

Atugonza@peterabwooli

UCC is cracking down on "illegal" public Wi-Fi, calling it a cybersecurity threat. In reality, it's protecting MTN and Airtel's profits from youth who buy their data and resell cheap, unlimited neighbourhood access for just 1,000 UGX/day.This grassroots model connects thousands of lower-income Ugandans and creates youth jobs. Until recently, even UCC seemed to support it.Stop targeting innovators. Regulate corporate pricing and bring back flexible data sharing instead.

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

Fair question. The real concern isn't that someone is using WiFi; it's what happens if something goes wrong. When public internet is provided commercially without the required authorisation, consumers have fewer legal protections, less accountability, and greater risks to their data and security. Our focus is not on stopping connectivity, but on ensuring every Ugandan connects through services they can trust.

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Asiye kifani@PeterSsemiyingo·9 Tem

@Bbossa Akosezawa if I connect it with illegal Wi-Fi

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·7 Tem

STOP. BEFORE YOU PAY FOR PUBLIC WIFI, ASK ONE QUESTION: IS IT LICENSED? Not every hotspot offering internet access operates legally. Illegal public WiFi providers put your money, personal data, and online security at risk. If someone charges for internet services, they must be licensed by UCC. Protect yourself by choosing only licensed providers. As @UCC_Official intensifies nationwide enforcement against illegal public WiFi services, play your part. Verify before you connect, report suspicious operators, and help keep Uganda's digital space safe, secure, and trustworthy. #SafeInternet #LicensedWiFi #ConnectedUganda2030

UCC@UCC_Official

Protecting Uganda's communications ecosystem requires compliance from all stakeholders. #ConnectedUg2030 | #DigitalUganda @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC @Bbossa

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

We appreciate that these businesses emerged to meet a real need for affordable internet, and that innovation deserves recognition. We also agree that discussing an appropriate licensing framework is important. However, a genuine need does not remove the legal requirement to operate within the law. It's similar to importing goods; demand for a product doesn't remove the need to follow the approved legal process. Our commitment is to work towards practical solutions that support innovation while protecting consumers and ensuring everyone providing public communications services operates under the same legal framework.

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mikidad ratib@miktiba·9 Tem

@UCC_Official @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC @Bbossa Please create a licencing protocol for these businesses instead of criminalising them because they are providing a public service that you have failed to subsidise todate...

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UCC@UCC_Official·7 Tem

Protecting Uganda's communications ecosystem requires compliance from all stakeholders. #ConnectedUg2030 | #DigitalUganda @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC @Bbossa

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

Dear Lowenz @lowenz21 We understand your concern because no one wants to lose money they've already paid. Unfortunately, this highlights the very risk of receiving public internet services from an unauthorised provider. Without the required licence, there are no guaranteed consumer protections if services are interrupted. That's why licensing exists, to protect consumers, ensure accountability, and give you confidence that the service you've paid for will be delivered or appropriately addressed if problems arise.

Lowenz@lowenz21

@UCC_Official @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC @Bbossa Don't first block those guys. I have subscribed 2 months package. Wait until my package expires

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

That's a fair question. The difference is that the law already exists and remains in force. What is being discussed is whether the current licensing framework should evolve to better accommodate this emerging business model. The Commission is open to that conversation, but it also has a legal duty to enforce the existing law while those discussions continue. Our goal is to balance compliance today with better regulatory solutions for tomorrow. #Tulinamwe

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Israel Ochakolong@jeanocha·9 Tem

@Bbossa Then respectfully sir, why doesn't the commission do first things first. Work on the policy gap first then look into enforcement otherwise its more like putting into action a law not yet passed.

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·9 Tem

Thank you, Atugonza, for taking the time to share your perspective respectfully. We understand why many young entrepreneurs feel frustrated, especially when they have invested their savings to meet a real demand for affordable internet. Those concerns deserve to be heard. The Commission's responsibility is not to protect any individual company, but to protect consumers and ensure everyone providing public communications services operates under the same legal and accountability framework. While the internet capacity you purchase comes from a licensed ISP, commercially reselling internet to the public is a separate regulated activity with additional obligations relating to consumer protection, service quality, cybersecurity, and accountability. You're also right to raise the question of licensing. The current telecommunications service provider licences were designed for much larger operators and may not be suitable for small-scale capacity resellers. That is a genuine policy gap and one that the Commission believes should be discussed openly with affected stakeholders. Regarding privacy concerns, the Commission takes allegations of unlawful use of personal data seriously. Any evidence of breaches should be formally reported so that they can be independently investigated and appropriate action taken. Our commitment remains unchanged: to protect consumers, encourage innovation, expand affordable connectivity, and work with all stakeholders to develop practical, lawful solutions that support entrepreneurship while strengthening Uganda's digital future. #Tulinamwe

Atugonza@peterabwooli

Thank you for being kind enough to engage with me on this matter. Here are my 2 cents on the issue, a youth buys data from a regulated ISP say airtel or @mtnug , buys equipment from registered/ taxable businesses, whereas data is purchased in bulk, it's already regulated by the corporate ISP. Payments to this innovative youth are made via mobile money services regulated and charged by the same telcos. Is the real concern about data protection or protecting the greedy interests of the telcos? I asked, we received unsolicited messages from or via the same telcos in January (attached), how did the sender get access to our mobile numbers which are meant to be private? How safe is our NIRA data with the same foreign telcos? But now the youth sharing data bought from the same telcos is being cracked down! We also have big manufacturers here in Uganda who sell in bulk at factory outlets for businesses to sell retail to individuals like me and you, now the same manufacturers are now hawking the same products to the final consumers themselves and no one sees an issue here. What I'm trying to say, there has never been protection of consumers in Uganda but rather PROTECTING INTERESTS OF THE GREEDY CORPORATE COMPANIES and in this case the mafia telcos like airtel and mtn. Get real, how much will it cost a youth to get a license to share a data bundle bought from the corporate ISP? With an initial investment ot less than $2000, will you ask the youth to pay a license worth $100k? I'll ask again, whom are you protecting exactly ? The ugandan consumer or the greedy telcos

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

That's a constructive suggestion, and it's a conversation worth having. Exploring an appropriate framework with affected stakeholders is a legitimate discussion. However, until any new arrangement is introduced, the existing law remains in force. The Commission remains committed to engaging all stakeholders to find practical solutions that support entrepreneurship, protect consumers, and create a communications sector where innovation and compliance can grow together. #Tulinamwe I prefer this response

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Ngonzi Furniture@ngonzifurniture·9 Tem

@Bbossa @peterabwooli the issue is on licenses, let UCC introduce licenses so that every hotspot person acquires, Then the ISPs can only relate with those with licenses issued by @UCC_Official That way, us all co-exist. Unfortunately, they don’t want to listen to no hotspot persons.

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

That's fair feedback, and we can always communicate more clearly. Simply put, public means you're selling internet access to other people for a fee, while non-public means you're using it yourself, your family, or your organisation. Our intention is to explain, not confuse. We'll continue engaging and providing clearer guidance because informed compliance is always better than misunderstanding. #Tulinamwe

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Joseph Akol P@josepha66943626·9 Tem

@Bbossa Wapi. We will continue using it unless they block it. First of all, who knows the difference between public and non public? Who knows what hotspot or coldspot? @UCC just wrote too much English without saying what they wanted to say.

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·10 Tem

Nothing is wrong with growth. In fact, the Commission welcomes innovation that expands internet access. The concern is how that growth happens. When public internet services grow outside the legal framework, consumers lose important protections and accountability. The Commission's goal is to support growth that is affordable, innovative, safe, and sustainable for every Ugandan.

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Balikoowa Yunus@BalikoowaYunus·9 Tem

@UCC_Official @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC @Bbossa So what's wrong with its growth !??

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·9 Tem

We agree that digital transformation depends on more people getting connected, and we recognise the contribution entrepreneurs have made. Our goal is not to shut them out but to ensure connectivity grows within a lawful framework that protects consumers. Engagement will continue, but until any new framework is introduced, the Commission must also uphold the current law. #Tulinamwe

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Aloysious Kasoma@AloysiousK·9 Tem

@Bbossa @peterabwooli Hi Bbossa, the digital transformation agenda was launched to drive penetration, there is progress thanks to the new players. Why is difficult to engage than cut off the branches (crackdown)? What do you want to achieve in cracking vendors than to support them @UCC_Official

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Atugonza@peterabwooli·9 Tem

Thank you sir. Here, you conceded that there exists policy gaps that need to be addressed beforehand. Why then are you being harsh on the innovative youth already without addressing the gaps first? You also say that you take data protection seriously, I asked, how did the unsolicited messages get to the numbers of millions of Ugandans between 12th and 14th January 2026? And what did @UCC_Official do about it? How about you first draft a policy to address the licensing requirements for retail data share. However, as you do that, have in mind the realities on the actual Ugandan economy, the country's digital development plan 2030 and the youth unemployment in light of the entrepreneurial spirit of Ugandans. One minute you are praising the innovative youth, the other minute you are cracking them down!!

Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·9 Tem

Consumer protection is measured not only by what happens when everything works, but also by what happens when it doesn't. Licensed providers are legally accountable for service quality, data protection, complaint resolution, and regulatory oversight. Those protections give consumers confidence when problems arise. In light of that, the Commission remains committed to addressing concerns about internet affordability while ensuring every Ugandan enjoys services that are not only affordable but also safe, reliable, and backed by clear legal accountability. #Tulinamwe

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Achie@AchieMiggz·9 Tem

@Bbossa @UCC_Official @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC Protecting the consumers?! Those big ISPs have cheated Ugandans of billions of money on data. U buy expensive data and boom in just 3 clicks its gone. I use those Hotspot but kids have a line for customer support, what u pay is what u get. I enjoy supporting them.

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·9 Tem

We understand this concern because behind every hotspot is someone's investment, livelihood, and hope for a better future. That's why the Commission believes the conversation on an appropriate regulatory framework for small-scale WiFi resellers is both legitimate and necessary. However, until any new framework is introduced, the existing law still applies. As enforcement begins, the Commission remains committed to acting lawfully, professionally, and fairly, while continuing to engage stakeholders on practical solutions that support innovation, expand affordable connectivity, and safeguard consumers. #Tulinamwe

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Achie@AchieMiggz·9 Tem

@Bbossa @UCC_Official @UCC_ED @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC Before the crackdown on them, develope a framework of some sort of liecence and make it affordable otherwise enforcement as we know it in this country their equipment will just get destroyed or stolen and later u legalize it when they have lost. Have that talk now b4 the crkdwn

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·9 Tem

We appreciate the question because it highlights an important distinction. Registering an IT business or obtaining a NITA-U data protection certification is valuable, but it does not replace the authorisation required to provide public communications services. Each approval serves a different purpose. If your business is commercially providing internet access to the public, it must also comply with the communications licensing requirements. This is not about closing legitimate businesses; it's about ensuring every provider offering public internet meets the same standards for security, service quality, and accountability. The Commission remains open to engaging innovators on practical regulatory solutions for the future.

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Atugonza@peterabwooli·9 Tem

@Bbossa @UCC_Official Let's say I have a registered IT business (startup), with a NITA- Uganda data protection certification, will you still close my business?

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Ibrahim Bbossa #IKB@Bbossa·9 Tem

Dear Atugonza @peterabwooli I appreciate you for sharing this perspective because it reflects a real concern for many Ugandans. Affordable internet is not a luxury; it is essential for education, business, employment, and innovation. @UCC_Official shares that concern and has consistently encouraged greater investment, competition, and innovative products that make connectivity more affordable. At the same time, product pricing, promotions, and data-sharing offers are commercial decisions made by individual operators, not the regulator. Our responsibility is to ensure the market remains fair, competitive, and compliant with the law. The current issue is different. Buying data for your own use is not the same as commercially providing internet services to the public, which is a regulated activity. We recognise that this has created opportunities for many young entrepreneurs, and that is why the conversation on appropriate regulatory options is important. The Commission's commitment remains unchanged: to champion affordable connectivity, protect consumers, encourage innovation, and build a communications sector where every Ugandan can access internet services that are affordable, secure, reliable, and delivered within a framework everyone can trust. #Tulinamwe

Atugonza@peterabwooli

@Bbossa let me share with you some brief history. Until 2021, airtel uganda (I believe also MTN) had a data share option where a user would purchase a monthly bundle at 50k (20gb), The user was able to share data up to 2gb to another airtel user (creatively sell it at 8-10k), this creatively youth would end up with a profit of 30k off the initial purchase. Impact: more youth bought airtel lines, more data purchased, more connectivity etc. But the ISP scrapped it off to force every one to buy the expensive bundles. Please show me a record of UCC @UCC_Official fighting for Ugandans on the cost of internet save for shutting them out and dancing to the tune of the foreign telcos. Why can't the UCC advocate for the national telcom company revival?

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@cpmayiga @UCC_ED @Akolkowski @UCC_Official @UgCERT @ConsumerUCC @peterabwooli @lowenz21