Airtel Uganda has officially handed over a dividend check worth UGX 42,609,880,000 to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The payout represents the returns on NSSF’s 10.6% equity stake in the telecommunications company, making the Fund Airtel Uganda’s largest local institutional shareholder.
This substantial payout follows a strong financial year driven by Airtel Uganda’s expanded network footprint, enhanced operational efficiencies, and improved customer service delivery.
The dividend handover arrives just days after the NSSF declared a historic 22.53% interest rate for the 2025/26 Financial Year. This landmark rate—the highest in the Fund’s history—will see UGX 5.44 trillion credited directly to the accounts of ordinary Ugandan savers.
During the handover ceremony, Airtel Uganda Managing Director and CEO, Soumendra Sahu, congratulated the NSSF leadership on this achievement. He noted that the dividend payout highlights the powerful impact of investing Ugandans’ long-term retirement savings into high-performing, productive local businesses.
“The NSSF demonstrated strong confidence in our business fundamentals, and we remain deeply committed to delivering consistent value to our shareholders,” Sahu stated.
Airtel Uganda continues to pioneer technological advancements in the region. Earlier this month, it became the nation’s first telecommunications provider to commercially launch satellite-to-mobile connectivity through a strategic partnership with Starlink. This innovation expands SMS and light-data coverage to compatible smartphones in remote areas historically unreached by traditional terrestrial networks.
Sahu emphasized that this growth fuels the company’s capability to expand its reach. “Whether through expanding our terrestrial network or introducing satellite-to-mobile technology, we want the value we create as a business to reach communities across the entirety of Uganda,” he added.
NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota commended Airtel Uganda’s leadership for balancing robust shareholder returns with clear, long-term growth objectives. He highlighted the massive value the investment has generated for the Fund’s 2.6 million members:
Initial Investment: NSSF purchased 4.21 billion shares for approximately UGX 199 billion.
Strategic Pricing: Due to an institutional volume discount, NSSF secured an effective entry price of UGX 47.17 per share.
Capital Appreciation: By the end of June 2026, the share price climbed to UGX 152—marking a stellar growth of over 300%.
“We hold this fund on behalf of our members,” Ayota explained. “When people wonder where our record 22.53% interest rate came from, a significant part of it came from the success of Airtel.”
Looking ahead, Airtel Uganda has pledged sustained capital investments into network expansion, modern digital infrastructure, and local partnerships to accelerate Uganda’s broader economic development while maximizing shareholder value.
