Bayobab Uganda, the digital infrastructure subsidiary of MTN Group, has launched a new 260-kilometre fiber optic route from Kampala to Malaba, positioning Uganda as a key node in East Africa’s growing digital backbone.

Constructed between December 2024 and February 2025, the new line follows the Uganda Railway corridor, connecting the capital directly to the Kenya border and interlinking with Bayobab’s high-capacity fiber network to Mombasa. This connection closes a critical loop between Kampala and the Kenyan coast, providing hyperscalers, telecom operators, and ISPs with enhanced route diversity, lower latency, and increased resilience.

“In collaboration with the Uganda Railway, we leveraged the existing rail network to deploy fibre, enhancing connectivity and providing high-speed internet access to communities along the line, connecting key routes between Kampala and Malaba at the Kenyan border – and beyond,” said Juliet Nsubuga, Managing Director of Bayobab Uganda. “This new route caters to the needs of international and national technology and digital players, as well as telecoms and ISPs that serve communities, demonstrating our commitment to connecting Africa.”

Bayobab’s deployment strategy aligns closely with MTN’s ambition to support inclusive digital access across Africa. The fibre line complements existing routes, including Busia–Jinja–Mabira–Kampala and Malaba–Tororo–Lira–Karuma–Masindi–Luweero–Kampala, reinforcing the national network with mesh-style redundancy.

As a landlocked nation, Uganda depends heavily on reliable cross-border fiber for access to global internet services. This newly commissioned route not only shortens the path from Kampala to Kenya but also fortifies Uganda’s internet infrastructure against disruptions.

Julianne Mweheire, Director of Industry Affairs and Content Development at the Uganda Communications Commission, welcomed the launch:
“The new route adds to the existing fiber network, connecting Uganda to the Kenya border and should increase on the already existing redundancy of connectivity access for Uganda as a whole. This launch aligns perfectly with Uganda’s national agenda to digitise services, expand connectivity, and close the gap between urban and rural access.”

The line has a capacity of over 1 Terabyte and provides direct interconnection to key data centers in Kampala, including Raxio, Airtel House, and MTN Uganda. It is designed to serve both commercial carriers and public institutions requiring secure, high-speed connectivity.

MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge emphasized the broader impact of reliable digital infrastructure:
“Imagine a startup in Lira testing its mobile app on cloud platforms without delays. A farmer in Kayunga checks real-time weather patterns to guide planting decisions. A remote school in Kisoro livestreaming science lessons from a national university. This is what a modern connected life looks like, and this is what we are enabling,” said Mulinge.

With this addition, Bayobab now operates one of the largest pan-African fiber networks, with more than 70 Points of Presence across Africa, Europe, and Asia, spanning over 50 countries as of 2024.