Uganda Launches National Internet Exchange to Cut Costs and Boost Connectivity

Kampala April 19, 2026 - Uganda has unveiled a national internet exchange platform aimed at reducing bandwidth costs, improving connection speeds, and strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure by keeping local data traffic within its borders. The initiative, launched by the National Information Technology Authority - Uganda, introduces the National IP Peering Exchange (NIPX), a system designed to enable internet service providers, telecom operators, and other institutions to exchange data locally rather than relying on international routing. Officials say the move addresses longstanding inefficiencies in Uganda’s internet ecosystem, where even locally hosted content has often been accessed via servers outside the country-resulting in higher costs and slower performance. Richard Obita, Director of Technical Services at NITA-U, described the platform as a critical piece of infrastructure that connects local networks on a unified system. “The National IP… Internet Protocol… exchange is a facility or infrastructure that will interconnect our local ISPs within the country,” Obita said during the launch in Kampala. He added that the new system will ensure that domestic internet traffic remains within Uganda, reducing reliance on costly international bandwidth. “This is to keep our traffic local, to keep our data local here,” he said, noting that the initiative is expected to “improve connectivity… [and] lower the cost of bandwidth.” According to NITA-U, a significant portion of Uganda’s digital content-including locally generated and cultural material-is already hosted within the country but has historically been accessed through international routes. The NIPX platform is intended to eliminate these inefficiencies, enabling faster and more affordable access. The development marks a significant step in Uganda’s efforts to expand its digital economy and enhance the performance and resilience of its internet infrastructure.