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|ug| Uganda +256

Number Format

Area Code:            2-3 digits (formerly 2-5 digits)
Subscriber Number:    4-7 digits (becoming 6-7 digits; see note below)
Trunk Prefix:         0
International Prefix: 000
Subscriber Numbers formerly seen to be 5-6 digits, but some areas had 4 digits or perhaps less. National renumbering programme in 2005-2006 standardises all subscriber number lengths to 6 or 7 digits, under area codes of 2 or 1 digits respectively.

Area code information

2006-2011 - Gemtel (South Sudan) usage of +256 numbers

Gemtel, serving South Sudan, was using Ugandan numbering in +256 477 xxxxxx for its telephone numbering. Ugandan officials and rival carrier MTN were critical of this arrangement due to perceived loss of taxes, but with the formation of the South Sudan +211 country code, Gemtel began using +211 977 xxxxxx under the new South Sudan numbering plan in late 2011, presumably abandoning access with Uganda numbering.

Source: MTN to block UTL calls (Daily Monitor, 9 March 2011)

15 April 2006 - expansion for Uganda Telecom (+256 4x)

Numbers change for Uganda Telecom fixed subscriber numbers under +256 4x. This is to conform to new national standard number lengths of 9 digits total (area code plus subscriber number).

This took effect for Uganda Telecom numbers 15 April 2006, but was previously announced to take effect 1 February 2006. Numbers from another carrier, MTN, were changed on 1 February 2006.

For this change, area codes of 2 or 3 digits remain unchanged. The new subscriber number is 7 or 6 digits respectively, to meet the new 9-digit national total digits (excluding country code and prefixes).

These changes are on a flash cut basis, without permissive dialling period.

'4', '44' or '444' was prepended to Uganda Telecom numbers depending on area code and subscriber number lengths to reach the new national 9-digit total. The following table indicates area codes and specific subscriber number changes:

Old format       New format        Place
----------       ----------        -----
+256 41  xxxxxx  +256 41  4xxxxxx  Kampala
+256 43  xxxxxx  +256 43  4xxxxxx  Jinja 
+256 45  xxxxx   +256 45  44xxxxx  Mbale 
+256 46  xxxx    +256 46  444xxxx  Mityana
+256 464 xxxx    +256 464 44xxxx   Mubende
+256 465 xxxxx   +256 465 4xxxxx   Masindi
+256 471 xxxxx   +256 471 4xxxxx   Gulu
+256 473 xxxxx   +256 473 4xxxxx   Lira
+256 476 xxxxx   +256 476 4xxxxx   Arua
+256 481 xxxxx   +256 481 4xxxxx   Masaka
+256 483 xxxxx   +256 483 4xxxxx   Fort Portal
+256 485 xxxxx   +256 485 4xxxxx   Mbarara
+256 486 xxxxx   +256 486 4xxxxx   Kabale (Rukungiri, Kisoro)
Source: Uganda Communications Commission announcement (21 December 2005, via ITU, updates on 16 September 2005, 14 May 2007)

Additional reports by Anne-Catherine Gay des Combes, Sergiu Rosenzweig.

1 February 2006 - expansion for MTN (+256 3x) and mobile

Numbers were changed for MTN's fixed/wireline numbers (under +256 3x) and for all mobile numbers in Uganda (+256 7x). This conforms to a 2005-2006 programme to standardise national number lengths to 9 digits total (area code plus subscriber number).

This change was previously announced to take effect on 1 November 2005, but was postponed.

For this change, '2' was prepended to all subscriber numbers to make new 7-digit subscriber numbers. Area codes remain unchanged at 2 digits.

These changes were made as a splash cut, without any parallel dialling period.

Old format      New format       Service
----------      ----------       -------
+256 3x xxxxxx  +256 3x 2xxxxxx  fixed - MTN
+256 71 xxxxxx  +256 71 2xxxxxx  mobile - Uganda Telecom
+256 75 xxxxxx  +256 75 2xxxxxx  mobile - Celtel Uganda
+256 77 xxxxxx  +256 77 2xxxxxx  mobile - MTN
+256 78 xxxxxx  +256 78 2xxxxxx  mobile - MTN
Source: Uganda Communications Commission announcement (21 December 2005, via ITU, updates 16 September 2005 announcement)

Additional report by Sergiu Rosenzweig.

1 October 2002 - MTN area code change

Carrier MTN changed its +256 78 numbers to +256 3x on 1 October 2002. Permissive running was in effect through 1 April 2003.

Source: Uganda Communications Commission announcement (via ITU, 4 Oct 2002, no longer accessible).

1999 - end of shared numbering plan with Kenya, Tanzania

Due to the end of the East African telecom arrangement, Tanzania proceeded with a national renumbering. This ended the integrated numbering plan among the three countries. Thus, the direct dial arrangements were replaced with regional access codes: Kenya through 005 and Tanzania through 007.

History of numbering in East Africa

See EAPTC historical notes.

Other information

Major carrier is Uganda Telecom.

MTN is another carrier.

Regulator is Uganda Communications Commission.

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