Exclusive: Vice President Halts UETCL Fibre Deal, To Brief President Museveni On Findings
Fresh twist as Alupo reportedly suspends further discussions after a high‑level meeting on the controversial UETCL fibre procurement.
The controversy surrounding Uganda’s cancelled UETCL fibre commercialization deal has taken another dramatic turn, with Vice President Jessica Alupo reportedly directing that all discussions and actions related to the procurement be halted until she personally briefs President Yoweri Museveni on her findings.
The development follows a high‑level meeting convened by the Vice President after representatives of Skynet Telecom LLC, one of the bidders in the cancelled procurement, petitioned her office over the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, Alupo resolved that no further decisions should be taken regarding the procurement until the President is fully briefed on issues raised during the engagements.
The decision effectively freezes any immediate attempts to revive or restructure the controversial commercialization process.
From Cancellation To State House
The latest development marks another chapter in what has become one of the most closely watched battles over control of Uganda’s strategic digital infrastructure.
As first reported by Deep State, the proposed commercialization of Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited’s (UETCL) national fibre optic network attracted intense scrutiny after technical evaluators raised concerns over governance, procurement procedures, and potential national security implications.
Those concerns culminated in UETCL cancelling the procurement process, citing a “significant change in the circumstances of the procurement.”
However, the cancellation did not end the matter.
Documents previously obtained by Deep State revealed that Skynet Telecom representatives subsequently met Vice President Jessica Alupo before she summoned the Attorney General, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, the Minister of State for Energy, the Solicitor General, and the Permanent Secretary to discuss the matter.
Bigger Questions
The latest decision by the Vice President comes amid broader investigations into businessman George Nkya, whose companies have featured prominently in proposals involving Uganda’s digital infrastructure.
Deep State previously reported that investigators have been examining attempts to secure influence over Uganda’s international internet gateway through Tanzania, the commercialization of UETCL’s national fibre network, and other strategic public infrastructure projects.
The investigations also drew in the Ministry of Energy, whose earlier intervention led to the cancellation of the original procurement process after technical experts raised serious concerns.
President Expected To Make Final Call
Sources say the Vice President now intends to brief President Museveni before any further engagement on the matter proceeds.
Her findings are expected to determine whether the procurement remains permanently cancelled, is reopened under new conditions, or forms part of a broader review into the management of Uganda’s strategic telecommunications infrastructure.
For now, officials familiar with the process say the message from the Vice President is clear: Everything stops until the President has been fully briefed.
