The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U) launched the National IP Peering Exchange (NIPX) on Friday, 17 April 2026. The event took place at Speke Resort Munyonyo. NITA-U is working in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
The NIPX is Uganda’s first neutral and open Internet Exchange Point. It will enable Internet Service Providers, content providers, cloud platforms, data centres, and government networks to exchange internet traffic locally. The platform will reduce latency, lower internet costs, improve network resilience, and strengthen the country’s digital sovereignty.
The initiative is a key deliverable under the Digital Uganda Strategy and Vision 2040. Currently, domestic internet traffic travels through costly international networks before returning to Uganda. The NIPX addresses that inefficiency directly.
State Minister for ICT and National Guidance Godfrey Kabbyanga called the development a milestone. “Today marks a bold and historic step in Uganda’s digital journey,” he said. “With the launch of the NIPX, Uganda is taking a decisive step toward achieving true digital sovereignty.” He urged stakeholders to use the platform to build a faster, more affordable, and secure internet ecosystem.
NITA-U Director of Technical Services Richard Obita said NITA-U designed the NIPX under neutral ownership. The goal is fairness and to prevent any single entity from taking control. “Instead of routing local traffic through expensive international carriers, networks can now interconnect directly within Uganda,” he said. The result, he added, will be lower latency, reduced costs, and improved reliability.
Godfrey Sserwamukoko, Chairman of the Internet Service Providers Association of Uganda, also welcomed the initiative. “The NIPX provides a neutral and open platform,” he said. “It has the potential to optimise local traffic exchange and bring meaningful cost efficiencies.”
The NIPX will operate under globally recognised principles: open peering, non-discriminatory access, and shared governance. Together, these aim to enhance collaboration and drive innovation in Uganda’s digital economy.
