Operating system also known (O.S) is the overall general software that controls the way other applications/programs and hardware operate on your device be it phone, tablet or computer.
With various phones being on the market today, we look at the most used mobile (phone) operating system in Uganda according Global statistics as per October 2018.
Android Operating System
This takes the lead in Uganda at 64.33% which could be attributed to cheap smartphones available on the market like the Tecnos, Infinix, iTel among others which come with Google’s operating system. Most clone smartphones on the market also have the similar operating system.
In Uganda, Android 7.0 Nougat has the biggest market share followed by 6.0 Marshmallow at 23.1%, 4.4 KitKat at 15.19% and 5.1 Lollipop-10.81%, 8.1 Oreo-6.22%, 5.0 Lollipop-4.77%.
The same operating system ranks No. 1 across both Africa and worldwide at 82.47% and 64.33% respectively.
Unknown Operating Systems
Coming in the second place at 26.17% are the Unknown Operating systems which according to my research are the ones in our small Chinese phones like the ones you have seen at mobile money shops.
Unknown operating systems across the continent take up the 3rd position at only 4.89% and 4th place at 0.68% worldwide.
iOS
iPhone’s system at 3.81% ranks number 3 in the country whereas across Africa and Worldwide it takes up the 2nd position 8.48% and 22.34%. Reasons why the operating system has not picked up in Uganda like it has worldwide can be followed from this article (why Ugandans don’t hold iPhone)
Series 40
The series 40 operating system in mainly is the 4th most used operating system Uganda with 2.08% market share. Across Africa it takes up 1.05% whereas across the world it does not scale up.
Windows and Linux
Last but not least at Windows mobile comes in at 1.38% and Linux with 0.94%. Windows mobile ranks 5th in Uganda, Africa (0.77%) and worldwide (0.36%). Linux assumes its positions under a different system beyond Uganda.
Africa and Rest of the World
Apart from the mentioned above, Nokia Unknown is Africa’s 6th (0.47%) most popular operating system.
KaiOS a Linux based system in Jio, and some Alcatel flip phones (not popular in Uganda) is the world’s 3rd most used operating system with 0.93%.
Samsung O.S takes up the sixth position with 0.3% users worldwide.
Below is a table with a summary of the above statistics
| Operating System | Uganda | Africa | World Wide |
| Android | 64.33% | 82.47% | 74.69% |
| Unknown | 26.17% | 4.89% | 0.68% |
| iOS | 3.81% | 8.48% | 22.34% |
| Series 40 | 2.08% | 1.05% | – |
| Windows | 1.38% | 0.77% | 0.36% |
| Linux | 0.94% | – | – |
| Nokia Unknown | – | 0.4% | – |
| KaiOS | – | – | 0.93% |
| Samsung | – | – | 0.30% |
