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Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, has revealed that she never aspired to hold the position she currently occupies.
In an interview on the “It’s Never That Serious” podcast, the mother of four spoke out about her surprise appointment as the technical head of the ICT Ministry.
Before her appointment, Dr. Zawedde was a lecturer and researcher at Makerere University’s School of Computing and Informatics Technology, where she served for over 15 years.
Her academic background includes a PhD in Software Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, an MSc in Computer Science from Makerere University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Technology from the University of Cape Town.
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She also holds a BSc in Statistics and Economics from Makerere University.
Transition to Public Service
Dr. Zawedde's transition into public service was both unexpected and unplanned.
“I never wanted this job; it's not a position I ever saw myself taking up, although I like serving people,” she said.
“I was an academic, a lecturer teaching computer science at Makerere University in the College of Computing. I had been there for about 15 years.”
But as a person who aspired to help others, she says, she took on the role to reach a wide part of the population.
Amina Zawedde
Her appointment as Permanent Secretary was announced by President Yoweri Museveni on July 15, 2021, as part of a broader reshuffle of government officials.
The appointment itself, she says, was surprising given that appointees are never informed beforehand.
“I found out with the rest of the public that I was to be a permanent Secretary,” she recounted
“If I had not been appointed PS, I think I’d still be lecturing, but also hopefully be a consultant; there are a lot of consultancies that go on…people do a lot of contributions to policies, innovations, among others.”
Since assuming her role, Dr. Zawedde has been instrumental in driving Uganda's digital transformation agenda.
Under her leadership, the Ministry has launched programs to bridge the digital divide, particularly in rural areas, and has partnered with global tech organisations to enhance digital literacy.