Uganda is reaffirming its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital innovation to drive its national development agenda. This was the central message delivered by the State Minister for National Guidance, Hon. Godfrey Kabbyanga, who attended the influential Mobile World Congress (MWC) Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, this week.
The MWC Kigali Summit brings together Africa’s industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to dissect how mobile technology, 5G networks, financial technology (Fintech), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are shaping the continent’s digital transformation.
Adopting Innovation for Uganda’s Realities
Minister Kabbyanga’s presence at the summit highlights the government’s strategic intent to integrate global tech trends with local development priorities. The Minister expressed deep enthusiasm for the innovations on display, emphasising their relevance to the Ugandan context.
“At the MWC25 Kigali Summit, I joined industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across Africa to explore how mobile technology is shaping the continent’s digital transformation,” Hon. Kabbyanga said.
“While inspecting the exhibitions, I was impressed by the range of innovations in AI, fintech, and 5G solutions that speak directly to Africa’s realities and opportunities. Uganda is keen to adopt and scale such technologies to accelerate inclusion and service delivery,” he added.
He noted that the focus on these three pillars, 5G, AI, and Fintech, is directly aligned with the country’s Digital Uganda Vision and the Digital Transformation Roadmap, which aim to enhance connectivity, improve government service efficiency, and foster a data-driven economy.
Accelerating Service Delivery and Inclusion
Uganda recognises mobile technology as the most powerful tool for achieving social and economic transformation, especially in bridging the gap between urban and rural communities. The technologies inspected by Minister Kabbyanga offer concrete solutions to national challenges, which include:
Fintech for Inclusion
Innovations in mobile banking and digital wallets are crucial for formalising Uganda’s vast informal sector, extending financial services to the unbanked, and streamlining government disbursements like the Parish Development Model (PDM).
AI for Efficiency
AI and data analytics present a unique opportunity for Uganda to leapfrog traditional development hurdles. They can be used to automate public services, improve fraud detection, and enhance decision-making in sectors like health, agriculture, and tax collection.
5G for Connectivity
The advanced capabilities of 5G technology will provide the necessary high-speed and affordable infrastructure to support complex e-services, remote medical diagnostics, smart agriculture, and the growth of indigenous tech startups.
Protecting Gains and Advancing the Digital Agenda
Minister Kabbyanga stressed that while the country is aggressively pursuing innovation, the government remains committed to a stable and supportive policy environment.
“As we engage at MWC25 Kigali, our focus remains clear: protecting the gains made under the NRM government while advancing Uganda’s digital agenda through innovation, policy reform, and strong public-private partnerships, ” he stated.
This statement signals a two-pronged approach: maintaining peace, stability, and democratic progress (the “gains”) while using digital transformation as the primary catalyst for future national prosperity.
The government’s priority, therefore, according to Kabbyanga, is creating an enabling regulatory framework that facilitates the private sector’s investment in these transformative digital solutions.
Uganda’s participation at the MWC Kigali summit is a powerful demonstration that the nation is not merely observing the global digital revolution, but actively positioning itself as a key adopter and beneficiary of Africa’s connected future.