Ugandan homebuyers get built-in internet as Airtel strikes housing deal

Kampala, Uganda – Airtel Uganda has signed an agreement with affordable homes developer Universal Multipurpose Enterprises to bring internet connectivity to its residential estates. The deal comes as property developers in the Ugandan capital increasingly use built-in technology to attract buyers.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday. Under the deal, connectivity will first be integrated at Macaw Residence in Naalya, a growing middle-class neighbourhood about 12.5km (8 miles) northeast of Kampala’s city centre.

Muffaddal Yeolawala, managing director of Universal Multipurpose Enterprises, signed for the developer. Sarwiat Rahman, Airtel Uganda’s head of enterprise, signed for the telecom company.

“It is about creating modern communities and providing our homeowners with comfort, convenience and quality living,” Yeolawala said at the signing. He described housing as more than physical construction.

Officials from both companies said the arrangement could later extend to other Universal developments.

Yeolawala thanked Airtel for choosing Universal as its partner. He urged both organisations to deliver value for homeowners.

“Together, we are not just building homes; we are empowering communities and shaping better living experiences,” he said.

Naalya sits along the Northern Bypass. In recent years it has grown into a residential hub, with apartment complexes and shopping centres such as Metroplex Mall.

Universal Multipurpose Enterprises also trades as Affordable Housing Uganda. It has built housing projects across greater Kampala and neighbouring Wakiso district, including duplex units in Naalya. The company says it targets Ugandan buyers at home and in the diaspora, and that it has completed thousands of residential units.

Airtel Uganda is led by Managing Director Soumendra Sahu. The company has invested in network expansion, 4G and 5G coverage, and fibre infrastructure. It recently launched satellite-to-mobile services in partnership with Starlink, the satellite internet company.

The agreement reflects closer ties between Uganda’s real estate and telecommunications sectors. Developers are seeking to set their projects apart with integrated services, while operators look for structured ways to reach customers in planned residential estates.