Bharti Airtel July 28, 2018//-Cash-strapped K2 Telecom subscribers will be absorbed by Airtel Uganda, offering a lifeline to the Buganda Kingdom-owned telco two months after it was shut down for failure to pay taxes. Airtel, the country's second largest telecom, has taken over K2's network operations with the latter left to operate as a virtual telecom, an official from the regulator Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) said on Friday. "All network and quality issues are set to be managed by Airtel as of today running until 2021," said Mr Abdu Salaam Waisswa, head of legal at UCC. The EastAfrican understands that as part of the deal, customers will be able to buy co-branded K2-Airtel sim cards with K2 receiving loyalty fees from the sales. The Uganda Revenue Authority ordered the closure of K2 Telecom after it accrued Ush94.8 million (about $25,000) in tax arrears over four years.