By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone – August 28, 2025: The Universal Access Development Fund (UADF) is seeking an increase in its levy on Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) from 0.75% to 1% in an effort to accelerate the expansion of telecommunications and ICT services to underserved rural communities across Sierra Leone.
The proposal was presented during an oversight visit by the Parliamentary Committee on Communication Technology and Innovation to UADF’s headquarters at Wilberforce on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. The visit provided Members of Parliament with insights into the Fund’s progress, financial status, and operational challenges.
UADF Managing Director, Marie Momoh, briefed the committee on the Fund’s achievements since its establishment in 2018. She noted that UADF began with just four towers inherited from MNOs but has since constructed five additional towers, with three more nearing completion—bringing the total to eight by the end of this year.
“Our growth has been steady but constrained,” Madam Momoh said. “We rely on a 0.75% levy from MNOs, along with contributions from the National Communication Authority (NaTCA) and BRACCO. Yet, our mandate is vast, and the financial resources remain limited.”
She highlighted UADF’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, including the establishment of Community Technology Centers (CTCs) equipped with computers and internet access, and the distribution of smartphones and feature phones to rural residents. However, she pointed out that tower construction remains costly—traditionally estimated at $500,000 per unit—though UADF has reduced expenses by deploying smaller, solar-powered towers.
Madam Momoh also cited Sierra Leone’s challenging terrain, donor fatigue, and the small size of its telecom market as barriers to rapid expansion. She compared Sierra Leone’s levy to regional counterparts, noting that Ghana imposes a 2% levy on MNOs, while Uganda’s rate is even higher.
“At the pace we are going, it will take us a long time to cover the country unless we secure more funding or increase the levy,” she told MPs. “We are already engaging the Minister and will again approach Parliament to consider raising the levy to 1%.”
She further disclosed that with support from the World Bank’s Digital Transformation Project, UADF is upgrading its towers from 2G to 4G technology, enabling rural communities to access modern internet services such as WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram.
Despite the challenges, Madam Momoh reaffirmed UADF’s commitment to expanding digital access and called for continued parliamentary support and strategic partnerships, including with ECOWAS, to strengthen funding and accelerate ICT development in Sierra Leone’s rural areas.