Uganda has unveiled a government roadmap aimed at transforming the country’s growing digital connectivity into tangible economic gains, as senior officials move to align science, technology and ICT systems under a unified national framework.
The initiative, spearheaded by Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Monica Musenero and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance Aminah Zawedde, was formalised at the National ICT Innovation Hub.
Dr Zawedde said the roadmap is already operational, with designated focal persons, clear timelines and jointly identified projects across the two institutions.
The move is designed to address a long-standing gap in Uganda’s development trajectory, where increased access to digital tools has not translated into proportional economic returns.
“A country can be digitally connected but still economically disconnected if it does not produce, capture and retain digital value,” Zawedde said, underscoring the urgency of shifting from consumption to production within the digital economy.
Uganda has in recent years recorded steady growth in mobile phone usage, internet penetration and digital financial services.
However, much of the value generated continues to flow outward through imported devices, foreign-owned platforms and externally hosted infrastructure.
Under the new framework, the Ministry of ICT and the Office of the President’s science and innovation docket will coordinate efforts across the full innovation chain—from research and skills development to product design, manufacturing and enterprise growth.
The roadmap is anchored in the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which prioritises integration across key economic sectors including agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development and science, technology and innovation.
Zawedde described the plan as a “coupling mechanism” intended to link previously fragmented government programmes into a coordinated system.
Musenero said the strategy is informed by lessons from Uganda’s past economic model, where the country exported raw materials while others captured the final value.
“For too long, Uganda did the labour while others captured the value. We are applying that same lesson to technology by building local capacity to produce, innovate and keep the benefits within our economy,” she said.
Zawedde emphasised that digital skills development will be central to the strategy, positioning it as a driver of job creation and enterprise growth.
“Every young Ugandan we train represents economic capacity that can generate jobs, build enterprises and ensure value is retained within the country,” she said.
The roadmap links universities and research institutions, innovation hubs, skills training programmes, manufacturing initiatives such as electronics production, and private sector enterprises.
Analysts say the approach reflects a broader policy shift aimed at positioning Uganda as a producer in the global digital economy rather than primarily a consumer.
The announcement, made during International Women's Month, has also drawn attention to the role of women in driving major structural reforms in science and technology.
Flavia Opio, head of the National ICT Innovation Hub, said the development sends a strong signal to young women pursuing careers in STEM fields, emphasizing the need to build systems capable of supporting the next generation of innovators.
Zawedde said implementation will be closely monitored, with success measured through increased local production, job creation and retention of digital revenues within Uganda’s economy.