Speaking at the third State of the Digital Economy (SODE 2026), RENU representative Patience Nagaba said while the country has made significant progress in connecting people and institutions, the next phase of digital growth requires robust infrastructure capable of supporting data-intensive technologies and global collaboration.
Her remarks reinforced a recurring theme at SODE 2026 that Uganda has largely moved beyond the question of connectivity and must now focus on creating the infrastructure, skills and trusted digital systems that transform access into economic opportunity.
"This year, RENU marked 20 years, and over the years, it has connected more than 1,000 sites to the network," Nagaba said.
Established as a not-for-profit organisation, RENU provides high-speed connectivity and digital services for Uganda's universities, research institutions and higher education community, enabling collaboration among researchers and academic institutions.
Nagaba said the country's understanding of digital infrastructure must also evolve.
"The internet is not all there is to digital infrastructure; digital infrastructure is the invisible foundation that enables people, data, platforms, and services to operate at a global scale," she said.
She explained that while internet access often receives the greatest public attention, technologies such as cloud computing, high-capacity fibre networks, data infrastructure and computing platforms are equally critical to supporting digital innovation and economic growth.
Her remarks build on earlier discussions at the conference, where speakers argued that digital transformation requires coordinated investment in infrastructure, practical skills, cybersecurity and policy reforms to unlock the full value of Uganda's digital economy.
Nagaba said RENU is already supporting that vision through partnerships aimed at strengthening the country's artificial intelligence ecosystem.
"We have partnered with Makerere University and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to establish a national AI cloud," she said.
The initiative is expected to provide researchers, innovators and developers with access to computing resources needed to build and test AI applications locally, reducing dependence on overseas infrastructure.
Nagaba also highlighted the scale of RENU's network, saying the organisation has built infrastructure capable of supporting the country's growing digital ambitions.
"We have a backbone that can push up to 200 Gbps. The future is local and the impact is global," she said.
Her presentation added another dimension to the conversations at SODE 2026, suggesting that Uganda's competitiveness in artificial intelligence and the digital economy will depend not only on connecting more people to the internet but also on building the high-capacity infrastructure that allows innovation, research and digital services to flourish.
As the conference continued, speakers increasingly converged on a common message: turning connectivity into opportunity will require more than affordable internet.
It will also demand investment in the invisible digital foundations—from AI infrastructure and secure networks to skills and partnerships—that enable Uganda to compete in a rapidly evolving global digital economy.