The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, has challenged Uganda's private sector to develop practical digital solutions that address national challenges and position themselves to benefit from government support.
Speaking as chief guest at the third edition of the State of the Digital Economy (SODE 2026), Lumumba said the country's digital transformation must now be measured by the opportunities it creates for citizens rather than the number of people connected to the internet.
"The private sector should position itself to offer solutions and access government support. Government alone cannot drive digital transformation. We need innovators, entrepreneurs and technology companies to develop solutions that respond to the real needs of our people," Lumumba said.
She commended Next Media for providing a platform that brings together government, the private sector and development partners to assess Uganda's digital progress and identify practical actions to accelerate transformation.
"As government, we value platforms that bring people together to discuss solutions and share ideas that move the country forward. The State of the Digital Economy has become an important forum for shaping conversations around Uganda's digital future," she said.
The minister said Uganda had made significant progress in expanding digital infrastructure and access to online services, but stressed that the next phase should focus on ensuring technology improves livelihoods, creates jobs and increases household incomes.
"By the time we gather for State of the Digital Economy 2027, I hope we will not be measuring our success by how many phones are connected or how many people are online, but by how many livelihoods have been transformed and how much income our people are earning because of the digital economy," she said.
Lumumba said government remains committed to digitising public services to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability, adding that investments in digital infrastructure, national data systems and digital skills are laying the foundation for sustained economic growth.
She, however, said government cannot achieve that vision on its own and urged innovators, researchers and technology companies to develop home-grown solutions capable of addressing challenges across key sectors of the economy.
Using agriculture as an example, Lumumba said artificial intelligence could help farmers detect crop diseases early, improve productivity and make informed decisions, calling on innovators to build technologies tailored to Uganda's needs.
She also identified affordability as one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion, backing efforts to lower the cost of internet services and digital devices so that more Ugandans can participate in the digital economy.
The minister further encouraged financial institutions and innovators to leverage digital footprints, including mobile money transaction histories, to extend credit to individuals and small businesses that lack conventional collateral.
Her remarks reinforced discussions throughout SODE 2026, where policymakers, innovators and industry leaders explored how Uganda can unlock greater value from digital technologies through artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, financial inclusion, digital infrastructure, digital skills and the creator economy.
The annual forum has increasingly become a meeting point for government and the private sector to shape policies and partnerships aimed at accelerating Uganda's digital transformation.
