Hundreds Face Unemployment as Africell-UG Exits Uganda Market

Hundreds of people employed by Africell-UG, one of the mobile network operators in Uganda are staring at certain unemployment as the operator exits Uganda’s market.

Africell on Tuesday the 7th of September, 2021 shocked its employees and subscribers when it announced that it will stop operations in Uganda early next month.

According to the statement posted on its website, which theCooperator has obtained a copy of, the operator will exit the Ugandan market on October, 7th, 2021.

The decision to exit the Ugandan market is based on its assessment of the long-time commercial outlook for the business and it fits in the strategies of the company.

The company in its statement added that they are working with Uganda Communications Commission [UCC], a body that regulates telecommunications in the country, and other local mobile network operators to ensure that the migration process is as smooth as possible for customers who will need to switch to alternative providers.

Africell introduced its mobile network services in Uganda in 2014 after acquiring assets of defunct Orange Uganda, another operator.

It has been providing jobs to hundreds of Ugandans, who have been working as managers, sales executives, and agents in its offices spread across the country.

Africell Uganda has also been providing mobile network services to millions of customers in Uganda.

The company’s decision to exit the Ugandan market now leaves MTN Uganda, Airtel, and UTL which is majorly used by Uganda Police Force as the only major telecommunications companies in Uganda.

Sameul Elungat, who sells Africell Sim-Cards along Soroti main-street, said that a decision by the company to close its operations in Uganda is a very big blow to him.

According to him, for the past three years, he has been selling Africell Sim-cards.

“I have been feeding my family with the money I get as commission after selling these Sim-cards but now the company has decided to exit the Ugandan market and I really don’t know where to begin from,” said Elungat.

Sarah Asekenye, another Sim-card vendor operating opposite Teso Bus Park appealed to the company’s management to consider giving them at least some package.

This she said will help them start a new life, adding that it’s very hard to get some casual work to do in order to get money, a number of entities that they would approach for a job have cut the number of their workers due to the effects of Covid19.

“A majority of us now will be forced to leave town and go back to the village because life is going to be very hard without a job” Asekenye said.

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