Telecom firms in Uganda yesterday introduced lower tariffs for subscribers making phone calls to Rwanda, Kenya, and South Sudan.

This was after Uganda implemented the Northern Corridor Summit Heads of State decision that required it to operationalise the One Network Area by January 2 this year, joining Rwanda and Kenya which began implementation last year.

The One Network Area, one of the several integration projects under the Northern Corridor framework, enables people to make calls across the region free of roaming charges.

"This is going to lower the costs of communication and revenue authorities will gain as is the case with Kenya,” Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Richard Kabonero, told The New Times in Kampala yesterday.

In a message sent to this reporter, MTN Uganda had also cut roaming charges signaling the beginning of an era of cheaper calls from Uganda to Rwanda, Kenya and South Sudan.

"Make calls while roaming in Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan for only 360 Uganda shillings per minute and receive calls for free. Welcome to One Network,” the message read.

There has been an outcry in the recent past from residents of the three countries on exorbitant calling and roaming rates that were being charged by telecom companies.

"The high calling rates to Kigali and Nairobi have been negatively impacting on profits we make as a business. I thank our leaders for this initiative,” said Joy Mutesi, a businesswoman.

For John Bosco Karemera, a Rwandan student in Uganda, the decision has "helped a great deal in cutting on airtime costs I have been spending on communicating with my parents in Kigali.”

Kabonero also said Uganda had also implemented a decision that allows residents of the three countries to enter the country without paying visa charges.

The eighth Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit, held last month, had underscored the importance of fast-tracking the operationalisation of One Network Area in Uganda and directed ministers for Finance and ICT to resolve all outstanding issues on the One Network Area by January.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw