Uganda to launch National IP Peering Exchange to cut internet costs

14 April 2026, 12:37 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U), in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, has officially announced the upcoming launch of the National IP Peering Exchange (NIPX). This was confirmed by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabyanga, during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre.

The launch is scheduled to take place on 17th April 2026 in Munyonyo.

The initiative will enable Internet service providers, content providers, cloud platforms, data centres, and government networks to exchange internet traffic locally and efficiently within the country. By keeping local traffic within Uganda, the platform is expected to significantly reduce latency, lower the cost of internet services, enhance network resilience, and strengthen Uganda’s digital sovereignty.

“Today marks a bold and historic milestone in Uganda’s digital journey. With the launch of the National IP Peering Exchange, Uganda is taking a decisive step toward achieving true digital sovereignty. My ministry has fulfilled its role as an enabler by working closely with NITA-U to deliver this critical national infrastructure, which will firmly position Uganda as a competitive ICT hub within the East African region. I urge all internet service providers, content providers, and digital businesses to actively peer at the NIPX so that government and the private sector can work together to build a faster, cheaper, more secure, and resilient internet for Ugandans,” he said.

Richard Obita, Director of Technical Services at NITA-U, highlighted key insights about the platform.

“The NIPX has been deliberately designed under neutral ownership, meaning it is neither owned nor controlled by government, thereby ensuring that no single entity holds controlling interest. This creates a genuine level playing field for all participants. Instead of routing local traffic through expensive international carriers, networks can now interconnect directly within Uganda. This delivers three immediate benefits: significantly lower latency for faster user experience, reduced operational costs by minimising reliance on international bandwidth, and greater reliability even during international link disruptions.”