Uganda set to launch digital transformation roadmap

The Vice President, Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, will unveil the highly anticipated initiative, led by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (MoICT&NG) and the Ministry of Education and Sports, with support from the United Nations Development Programme Uganda (UNDP) and Centenary Technology Services (Cente-Tech), on August 17, 2023.

The Digital Transformation Roadmap is a source of pride and optimism for Uganda, as it aspires to use digital technology to bridge the gap between rural and urban inhabitants.

The strategy aims to overcome the digital divide that has historically hampered prospects for marginalised communities, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and empowerment. Uganda aspires to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to fully participate in the digital economy and access vital services to enhance livelihoods by embracing the promise of digital technology.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of ICT, Aminah Zawedde, said in a statement that "The launch of Uganda's first Digital Transformation Roadmap represents a moment of pride and optimism for our nation. With this transformative plan, we hope to establish a Uganda in which digital technology serves as a great equaliser between rural and urban populations, leaving no one behind in the pursuit of growth and wealth."

The roadmap's central theme is inclusivity and empowerment, with special emphasis on closing the digital divide, which has historically hampered prospects for individuals in distant and marginalised communities. The plan intends to allow individuals, businesses, and communities to fully participate in the digital economy and access key services that can enhance livelihoods by exploiting the promise of digital technology.

The United Nations Development Programme's strategic aim of "creating a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet" is ideally aligned with Uganda's goal for the transformative roadmap. With UNDP's assistance, the country is prepared to realise the tremendous potential of digital technology, supporting sustainable development and social progress that benefits both people and the environment.