Uganda’s telecom giants—MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda, and tower company ATC Uganda—have teamed up with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to launch “Tokigeza,” a nationwide campaign to combat vandalism threatening the nation’s critical telecom infrastructure. Launched on May 15, 2025, in Kampala, Tokigeza, meaning “Don’t do it” in Luganda, urges Ugandans to “Stop the Disruption. Protect Your Connection.”
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The initiative addresses a growing crisis, with over 820 cable thefts, 283 fuel thefts, and 90 battery thefts reported between 2022 and 2024. These incidents caused outages lasting up to 134 hours in districts like Sheema, Kaliro, and Masaka, disrupting access to education, emergency services, and businesses. “Telecom infrastructure is the backbone of our development,” said Hon. Nyombi Thembo, UCC’s Executive Director. “Tokigeza is our united front to stop this trend.”
Backed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s pledge to designate telecom towers as Critical National Infrastructure, Tokigeza aims to strengthen enforcement and deterrence. This designation would classify vandalism as economic sabotage, enabling harsher penalties and integrating tower security with police CCTV systems. “When a tower is vandalized, it’s not just equipment lost—it’s a child missing an online class or a business losing revenue,” said Nicholas Beijuka, MTN Uganda’s General Manager of Capital Projects.
The campaign blends community engagement with policy reform. Through media outreach, school programs, and partnerships with local leaders, landlords, and boda boda riders, Tokigeza seeks to foster a collective sense of responsibility. “Our infrastructure connects millions to essential services,” said Dorothy Kabagambe Ssemanda, CEO of ATC Uganda. “Every vandalism incident silences communities and delays progress.”
Airtel Uganda’s Managing Director, Soumendra Sahu, emphasized the need for legal reforms, including regulating the scrap metal trade—a common outlet for stolen telecom materials—and forming a multi-agency taskforce. “Telecom infrastructure is strategic to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation,” he said. “We’re committed to driving accountability.”
Tokigeza’s strategic interventions include amending the Penal Code Act for tougher penalties and enhancing surveillance. The campaign also encourages citizens to report vandalism via the toll-free hotline 0800282662. “Tokigeza is not just a campaign—it’s a movement,” Beijuka added, underscoring the need for community partnerships to protect Uganda’s digital future.
As telecom operators invest in network expansion and renewable energy, vandalism remains a persistent threat. By rallying ISPs, infrastructure landlords, and citizens, Tokigeza aims to safeguard connectivity and ensure no Ugandan is left behind due to criminal activity.
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