Massive Lycamobile Outage Sparks Exit Fears 5 Years Later

What is wrong with Lycamobile network?

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Lycamobile Uganda experienced a major nationwide network outage that left thousands of subscribers unable to make calls, access the internet, or even use basic USSD services. The total blackout led to widespread concern and online speculation, with many users wondering if the telecom provider was quietly closing shop in Uganda.

Lycamobile, a UK-based mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), entered the Ugandan market in January 2020. It positioned itself as a budget-friendly alternative, offering low-cost voice and data plans. Despite this, the company has consistently struggled to secure a strong foothold in a market dominated by heavyweights like MTN and Airtel.

Customers Left in the Dark During Nationwide Blackout

The abrupt network failure on May 17 was made worse by the company’s silence during the early hours of the outage. Many customers reported that Lycamobile’s customer care lines were unreachable, further fueling rumors that the provider was pulling out of the Ugandan market. Social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), became a hotspot for frustrated users voicing their grievances.

One user tweeted, “Lycamobile, is our relationship with you just being forced? I knew it would end in tears but tell us the truth.” This post and many others mirrored the sentiment of confusion and dissatisfaction from subscribers who were left in the dark.

Company Denies Exit Plans Amid Closure Speculation

As speculation mounted, Lycamobile eventually released a statement explaining that the outage was the result of a major technical fault. They assured customers that efforts were underway to restore services within 24 hours. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to serving the Ugandan market, highlighting that it had reached over one million subscribers and expanded its network coverage to various urban centers.

Persistent Struggles and Rumored Acquisition Talks

This isn’t the first time Lycamobile has faced turbulence in Uganda. In December 2023, the company had to publicly deny similar closure rumors, which were linked to ongoing network expansion works that temporarily affected service quality. More recently, reports have emerged about potential acquisition talks between Lycamobile and Sparknet, a UK-based telecom firm, raising questions about the company’s long-term plans in Uganda.

While Lycamobile has officially denied any intentions to exit the country, the recurring network issues and swirling speculation have cast a shadow over its future in the Ugandan telecom space. As the situation develops, customers and industry stakeholders will be closely watching to see whether Lycamobile can bounce back—or whether this marks the beginning of the end for its operations in Uganda.