Uganda is ready to lead, not to follow, in global race towards digital transformation – ICT minister claims
To the private sector, Kabbyanga delivered a powerful message: “We need you. Government can create the rails, but the trains of progress must come from your ideas, your investment, and your products.”
The 2nd National ICT Summit 2025 kicked off this week with a resounding call to action from the Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabbyanga Baluku, who declared Uganda’s readiness to lead—not follow—in the global race toward digital transformation.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre, Minister Kabbyanga described the summit as more than just an annual event. “It is a platform of action, where words meet strategy, and ideas turn into national impact,” he stated, addressing a packed room of policymakers, private sector leaders, tech innovators, and international development partners.
Held under the theme “Harnessing Digital Innovation for Sustainable Economic Growth”, this year’s summit is laser-focused on how digital tools can solve real-world challenges across Uganda’s key sectors, agriculture, health, education, and the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.
“Uganda must not only adopt emerging technologies—we must shape them,” Kabbyanga asserted. “In the AI age, innovation is not a buzzword. It is a survival code.”
He posed hard-hitting questions to the nation’s ICT thinkers, “How do we improve productivity in agriculture with digital tools? Can mHealth platforms transform our healthcare? How can the education system be redesigned for a digital economy?” These, he said, are not theoretical queries, but immediate national concerns that demand bold solutions.
Kabbyanga underscored the government’s commitment to the Digital Transformation Roadmap 2024–2028, calling it “not a vision statement, but an execution manual.” The plan targets five key pillars among which include Digital infrastructure, e-Government services, Digital skilling, Private sector innovation and Cybersecurity resilience.
“The roadmap is about delivery, not debate. Our mission is to make the digital economy work for everyone—from Kampala to Karamoja, from Masaka to Gulu,” he emphasized.
What makes this summit different, Kabbyanga noted, is the inclusion of immersive exhibitions, B2B clinics, and live demonstrations, a signal that Uganda is shifting from talk to tangible action.
He praised the ICT Association of Uganda (ICTAU) for its pivotal role in uniting stakeholders across the ICT ecosystem, noting that digital transformation “is not the mandate of one ministry. It is a whole-of-nation priority.”
To the private sector, Kabbyanga delivered a powerful message: “We need you. Government can create the rails, but the trains of progress must come from your ideas, your investment, and your products.”
He revealed that Uganda’s ICT sector has consistently contributed between 7–8% to the country’s GDP since 2017. “With deeper public-private collaboration, this figure can rise—while also driving accessibility, affordability, and better services for all Ugandans.”
An Inclusive Call to Action
The Minister also appealed to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to actively participate in the summit as co-owners of the digital agenda. “Let’s ensure that digital transformation is not an abstract policy but a lived experience in every district,” he said.
Development partners were equally acknowledged for their “long-standing support” and invited to deepen investments into Uganda’s digital future. “This summit is a springboard for new partnerships,” Kabbyanga noted.
