Uganda has launched a joint government roadmap aimed at turning growing internet connectivity into tangible economic gains, with a focus on jobs, innovation, and retaining value within the country.
The plan, agreed between the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat, brings together two of the country’s key institutions in the digital economy.
Dr Monica Musenero, the minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, said Uganda must shift from exporting raw inputs to producing finished digital products and services.
“For too long, Uganda grew the coffee, but someone else sold the jar. We did the labour. They captured the value. We are applying that same lesson to technology,” Musonero said.
She added that the country is now investing in building local industries, training a skilled workforce, and ensuring that profits from innovation are retained within Uganda.
Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of ICT, said digital skills should be viewed as an economic driver rather than a social intervention.
“Every young Ugandan we train is a unit of economic capacity. They can build products, run enterprises, and create jobs. That is how value stays within the economy,” Dr. Zawedde said.
The roadmap aligns with the National Development Plan IV, which emphasises industrialisation through coordinated action across key sectors.
These include agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development, and science and technology.
Officials said one of the main challenges has been limited coordination between ministries and agencies, which has slowed the translation of policy into measurable economic outcomes.
The new framework is intended to bridge that gap by linking institutions and ensuring that projects are implemented in a coordinated way.
Experts note that reliance on imported devices, foreign-owned platforms, and offshore data services means that much of the value generated by Uganda’s digital activity leaves the country.
The government now wants to build local capacity in areas such as software development, hardware production, and digital services.
This includes supporting innovation hubs, strengthening training programmes, and promoting local enterprises that can compete regionally and globally.
The initiative also carries symbolic weight, coming during Women’s Month and led by two senior female officials in science and technology.
Observers say it reflects a shift from advocacy for women in STEM fields to active leadership in shaping national policy.
The success of the roadmap will depend on implementation, funding, and the ability of institutions to sustain collaboration beyond initial commitments.
For now, officials insist the plan marks a practical step towards ensuring that Uganda not only connects to the digital world but also benefits economically from it.
