By THE INDEPENDENT UG
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Over half a million Ugandans now have access to mobile telecommunications services through high-quality mobile phones assembled in Uganda. Mione, a mobile device manufacturer with an assembly plant in Mbale City, Eastern Uganda, has successfully sold 500,000 feature phones in Uganda since commencing operations earlier this year. Mione is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
In an exclusive interview, Shirley, the Chairman of Mione, expressed excitement about Ugandans embracing locally-assembled phones to meet their communication needs. She emphasized Mione’s pride in contributing to the spirit of Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU).
“By assembling phones locally, we not only create hundreds of jobs for Ugandans but also provide our customers with better products at pocket-friendly prices. Our feature phones, including the three bestselling models AB1/AB3/AB6, boast a 2.5D drop-proof screen and a powerful flashlight controlled by a side button,” she added.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Q3 Market Report, released in August 2023, indicates an increase in mobile phone usage in the country, with a net addition of 958,000 new mobile devices.
“The number of devices accessing the telecom network in Uganda witnessed a 3% growth from December 2022 to March 2023, reaching a total of 39.1 million. This surge is largely attributed to the increasing adoption of smart and feature devices, growing by 3% quarter-on-quarter to 12.6 million and 24.5 million, respectively,” the report stated.
Despite the overall rise in mobile phone penetration, the count of feature phones declined by 9% to 1.85 million handsets during the same period. The net addition of new mobile devices aligns with the number of new active SIM cards registered in the three months leading up to March 2023.
“The continuous trend of adopting smart and feature gadgets signals ongoing technological advancements and showcases the market’s adaptiveness to new hardware releases, such as e-sims, as well as the growth in digitalization and e-commerce.”
During a visit to the Sino Uganda-Mbale Industrial Park, where the Mione assembling plant is situated, in August this year, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commended firms like Mione for their significant contributions to job creation in Uganda.
“I’m very glad the Chinese government is encouraging Chinese companies to go out and invest in Africa. I thank them so much,” Museveni remarked.
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