CTI Africa was unveiled by Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation Evelyn Anite on Wednesday saying the first phase of smartphones will be launched early next year.

The company, through LifeMobile, is expected to invest about $10m into the venture and this will create at least 400 jobs in the first phase of operation.

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LifeMobile was allocated a site to install an assembling plant on the 6th Street in Industrial Area in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

The assembling plant will also develop "specialised applications to improve healthcare, mobile banking, insurance, microfinance and education services".

At least 75,000 smartphone orders have already been placed, according to CTI Africa CEO Mr Michael Landau.

Uganda has over 30.56 million mobile subsribers. The average price of smartphones in Uganda has dropped to $83, from $135 in 2016, and $167 in 2015