Uganda has begun consultations to develop a national strategy aimed at promoting emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, robotics, cloud computing, and quantum computing, as part of efforts to drive economic growth and digital transformation.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies Uganda, brought together government officials, private sector representatives, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to provide input on the potential role of advanced technologies in modernizing the economy and public administration.
Aminah Zawedde, Uganda’s ICT minister, highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative, saying: “Uganda stands at a decisive turning point in its digital transformation journey. The decisions we make today regarding emerging technologies will determine how our economy, institutions and society function for decades to come.”
Officials noted that while these technologies could help accelerate innovation, improve service delivery, and boost economic competitiveness, Uganda still faces challenges in large-scale adoption.
According to the 2025 Frontier Technologies Readiness Index published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Uganda ranks 155th globally and 38th in Africa in terms of readiness to adopt frontier technologies. By comparison, South Africa, Morocco, and Mauritius lead the continent in this area.
The consultations aim to identify key priorities and obstacles, including financing constraints, limited digital infrastructure, gaps in rural connectivity, and the shortage of trained technology professionals. These structural factors will influence the effectiveness and pace of Uganda’s digital transformation strategy.
Experts say that establishing a comprehensive national framework could help reduce the technological gap, encourage private-sector investment, and create a policy environment conducive to innovation. By coordinating government action with industry and academia, Uganda hopes to foster research, development, and deployment of AI and other emerging technologies across sectors.
The initiative comes amid a growing recognition that digital technologies are essential drivers of economic development and public service efficiency. Advanced technologies such as AI, blockchain, and big data can improve decision-making, enhance productivity, and enable the country to better compete in the global digital economy.
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Uganda’s government also emphasized the importance of inclusive adoption, noting that addressing the digital divide between urban and rural areas will be critical to ensuring broad-based benefits from the emerging technologies strategy.
If successfully implemented, the national strategy could support the modernization of key sectors, including finance, agriculture, health, and public administration, while creating opportunities for skills development and employment in high-tech fields.
Officials indicated that the consultations would feed into a policy framework that sets priorities for investment, infrastructure development, regulatory reform, and capacity-building initiatives in advanced technologies.
Stakeholders hope that the strategy will also attract foreign investment in technology projects and position Uganda as a hub for innovation in East Africa.
While the country faces challenges in bridging the technology gap, the government’s move to develop a coordinated strategy represents an important first step in fostering a more digitally competitive economy.
The national framework, once finalized, could provide a roadmap for scaling up adoption of AI, blockchain, IoT, and other frontier technologies, helping Uganda harness the potential of these innovations to accelerate growth and strengthen its position in the regional and global technology landscape.
