The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Monica Musenero, has called on Ugandans to move from consuming imported technology to creating local digital and AI solutions, warning that continued reliance on foreign systems could drain the country’s economy.
Speaking at the Second AI in Health Africa Conference at Makerere University, Dr Musenero said Uganda has long celebrated owning advanced technology rather than developing it locally.
“We have positioned ourselves at the end of consumption. We celebrate owning the latest gadgets, but we do not participate in their creation,” she said.
“We respect the person who has an iPhone 17, but I would be happier with someone who can design and manufacture even an iPhone 5.”
Dr. Musenero warned that digital transformation, if approached merely as convenience, risks diverting value away from the local economy. She noted that payments for foreign digital services, such as email subscriptions, leave the country instead of supporting domestic development.
“To build sustainable AI, our first aspiration should be to procure space by owning the technology. We must be creators, not just facilitators of consumption,” she said.
Prof. Tonny Oyana, Principal of Makerere University’s College of Computing and Information Sciences, highlighted local innovations including AI-driven diagnostic tools that can detect diseases from a simple blood test in minutes, and an affordable air-quality monitoring device priced under $200.
He noted that some of these solutions are already being deployed in other African countries.
Dr. Musenero concluded that Uganda must adopt AI with a clear economic philosophy to ensure it drives national development rather than serving only convenience.
“We cannot resist AI. But we must adopt it with the right philosophy so that it becomes a driver of economic development, not just convenience,” she said.