Ciao,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Uganda switches off the Internet ahead of elections
- Uber says bye to Visa in Kenya
- Amazon’s Kuiper gets NCC approval to enter Nigeria
Uber says bye to Visa in Kenya
Uber has quietly pulled Visa card payments from its app in Kenya, leaving riders and food delivery users with fewer ways to pay for trips and orders. The change, which has been in effect since around December, removes one of the most popular payment options and forces users to switch to alternatives like cash, Mastercard, mobile money (like M-PESA and Airtel Money), or PayPal.
According to Uber, the decision came after a review of payment methods in the market, pointing to rising global payment processing costs as a key factor behind ditching Visa, even though Visa remains widely used in Kenya. Users have complained in the past about card issues like double charges or pending transactions, where drivers sometimes claimed they didn’t receive payment and demanded mobile money instead, although Uber hasn’t officially connected this to the Visa pull-out.
The shift also reflects Kenya’s payments ecosystem, where mobile money dominates and card usage — while still broad — operates alongside platforms like Paystack, iPay, and DPO that support Visa, Mastercard, and M-PESA integrations. Uber has been deepening its embrace of mobile money in recent years, including partnerships that let riders and drivers pay and get paid via M-PESA, even offering free data access for Uber and Uber Eats apps through Safaricom to boost usage.
For everyday riders and frequent travellers who prefer paying with Visa cards, especially business users or foreigners, this is a noticeable change. But for many locals already comfortable with mobile wallets and Mastercard, the impact could be less disruptive. What it does underline is how payment habits and costs are shaping tech services in Africa’s ride-hailing space, pushing global players to adapt or retrench based on local realities.
Amazon’s Kuiper gets NCC approval to enter Nigeria
If you thought Starlink had Nigeria’s satellite Internet market to itself, Amazon just knocked on the door. Project Kuiper, Amazon’s low-Earth orbit satellite Internet project, has secured regulatory approval to begin operating in Nigeria from 2026, setting up a new broadband showdown in Africa’s largest market.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted Kuiper a seven-year landing permit, dated February 28, 2026, allowing it to deploy its space segment as part of a global constellation of more than 3,200 satellites. The approval clears Kuiper to provide satellite broadband across Nigeria and gives Amazon the green light to start planning ground infrastructure, partnerships, and enterprise deals.
What this really means is competition. Real competition. Until now, Starlink has enjoyed a clear first-mover advantage in Nigeria’s LEO satellite space. Kuiper’s entry signals that Nigeria is no longer a one-horse race. For regulators and customers, this could translate into better pricing, faster rollouts, and higher service standards as rivals fight for market share.
This move didn’t happen overnight. Nigeria has been quietly positioning itself as an open market for next-generation connectivity, especially as millions remain unserved or underserved by fibre and mobile broadband. With mobile broadband penetration still hovering around 50% and rural connectivity gaps stubbornly wide, LEO satellites have become an increasingly attractive complement to terrestrial networks.
Why this matters is simple: Internet access powers everything from banking and education to logistics and public services. With Amazon’s Kuiper joining the fray — bringing its scale, cloud ecosystem, and logistics muscle — the pressure is now on Starlink and local players alike. If competition plays out as expected, Nigerian users may end up with faster speeds, more reliable connections, and real choice in how they get online.
Uganda switches off the Internet ahead of elections
Yesterday, Uganda pulled the plug on the Internet. From 6:00 PM local time, all major ISPs and mobile networks were ordered to shut down public Internet access, just two days before the country heads to the polls on January 15. Authorities said the move was meant to curb misinformation and prevent election-related violence, but it effectively took the country offline at a critical political moment.
Why should anyone care? Because for millions of Ugandans, the Internet is how they get real-time election updates, report irregularities, coordinate observers, and fact-check political claims. With the blackout in place, social media, messaging apps, email, browsing, streaming, and even mobile VPNs are all blocked, cutting off citizens from each other and from the wider world.
This isn’t new territory for Uganda. Similar shutdowns were enforced during the 2016 and 2021 elections. This time, the government has gone further, stopping new SIM card sales and blocking outbound data roaming to neighbouring countries like Kenya and Tanzania, closing a common workaround where people connect via border networks.
Not everything is going dark, though. Hospitals, banks, ATMs, government platforms, power grids, and election commission systems will remain online through whitelisted IPs, private VPNs, or dedicated connections. Telecom operators have been warned that failure to comply could lead to heavy fines or even licence revocation, and they must report any technical “incidents” within 30 minutes.
Across Africa, Internet shutdowns during elections have become a familiar playbook: restrict communication, control narratives, and limit mobilisation or documentation of abuses. But cutting access doesn’t stop misinformation; it just makes it harder to verify what’s true. In the silence that follows, only state-approved channels are left speaking.
In case you missed them
- Nigeria eyes passage of AI law to lead regulation push in Africa
- Elon Musk’s Starlink continues to face issues in South Africa. Here’s what has happened so far
What I’m watching
- What Happens When You Walk Before Eating vs After Eating? The Science Will Surprise You.
- Why people mistake feelings for moral insight | Alex O’Connor
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Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
