Automation, data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) hold transformative potential for Uganda, yet untapped opportunities in these technologies could revolutionize key sectors and drive economic growth.
Experts say Uganda stands at the point of an untapped revolution in automation, data analytics, and AI. While these tools have the potential to transform sectors like agriculture, healthcare, finance, and education, their adoption remains limited.
Dr. Fred Muhumuza a Senior Lecturer at the Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and the Director of the MUBS Economic Forum highlights the AI’s Potential and Challenges in Uganda.
While delivering a keynote address on Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Governance Symposium at the Sheraton Hotel organized by Task Managers on Thursday, he emphasized the transformative potential of AI and the obstacles hindering its widespread application.
Drawing on findings from a 2021 Ipsos study involving 19,504 individuals aged 16–74 across 28 countries, Muhumuza highlighted the profound impact AI is having across multiple sectors.
“AI-driven algorithms are potentially more powerful than any human-coded computer programs,” Dr. Muhumuza stated, adding that AI’s ability to perform complex tasks more efficiently presents significant opportunities. He also highlighted the increasing demand for complementary skills such as data literacy, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, and ethical understanding to prepare the workforce for an AI-driven future.
Dr. Muhumuza noted that AI is revolutionizing industries by enhancing innovation, automation, data analytics, and customization. Its integration with emerging technologies is reshaping society and pushing boundaries beyond traditional technological capabilities.
However, while the potential is vast, Dr. Muhumuza pointed to several barriers indicating that technological maturity where certain AI technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and quantum computing, remain in experimental, limiting their measurable economic benefits.
“Skills deficits and resistance to organizational change continue to slow AI adoption in many sectors. The current business and government systems often lack sufficient integration of AI models, reducing their effectiveness,” he explained.
Dr Muhumuza also pointed out institutional challenges creating inequitable efforts in AI training and workforce retraining exacerbate the digital divide, limiting access to the benefits of AI advancements.
According to Dr. Muhumuza, government should embrace strategic public and private sector efforts to address these obstacles.
“This includes prioritizing AI training, fostering adaptability in organizations, and investing in emerging technologies to unlock AI’s full potential. Reducing the digital divide and promoting skills retraining will be critical to ensuring AI benefits society equitably,” he concluded.
Collin Babirukamu the Director –Governance Services, National Information Technology Authority of Uganda (NITA-U) outlined the Impact of AI and Data Analytics on Uganda’s Workforce and Governance.
He has emphasized the transformative impact of AI and data analytics on various sectors, including workforce dynamics, service delivery, and governance.
Babirukamu highlighted the urgent need for individuals, businesses, and government agencies to embrace AI, upskill, and adapt to a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
“AI is not just a tool; it’s a more reliable, cost-effective employee. It doesn’t take leave, doesn’t complain, and delivers consistent results,” he noted a NITA-U official, highlighting the use of AI-powered chatbots. These chatbots now manage customer interactions 24/7, eliminating downtime and manual intervention.
He added that AI is fundamentally reshaping the job market, with automation replacing routine tasks across industries. Professionals such as accountants and database administrators face the challenge of evolving their roles as AI-driven solutions handle traditional functions more efficiently.
“The growing demand is for data scientists—experts who can extract meaningful insights from data, a skill now considered one of the most lucrative and sought-after in the job market,” he explained.
Babirukamu pointed that NITA-U is spearheading efforts to integrate AI and data analytics into government operations. This includes developing a secure data integration layer to streamline the sharing and analysis of information across ministries, agencies, and departments (MDAs).
“For governance to be efficient, we must leverage data. Imagine the President accessing a dashboard en route from Entebbe to Kampala, monitoring the health of ministries, budgets, and public service delivery in real-time,” he explained.
NITA-U has already connected over 176 databases, including key players like URSB, NIRA, URA, and commercial banks, enabling seamless services such as Know Your Customer (KYC) processes for banks, which now take seconds instead of days building an AI-Driven Ecosystem
He added that NITA-U is also formulating Uganda’s first AI policy, aiming to establish a legal and strategic framework to guide AI deployment. The task force driving this initiative will deliver a comprehensive AI strategy and propose an AI Act, anticipated within the next year.
The authority stressed the importance of educating Ugandans on the opportunities AI offers, hosting symposiums to raise awareness and prepare the workforce for a digitally-driven economy.
“We must all upskill and adapt. AI is not a future concern—it’s a now reality,” he concluded.
Tayebwa calls for Data Protection Act amendment, New AI Legislation
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa emphasized the need to amend the Data Protection and Privacy Act of 2019 and to introduce targeted legislation for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Tayebwa emphasized that these measures are essential to reducing disparities between the “haves” and “have-nots” and to helping African countries fully leverage the economic benefits brought by emerging technologies.
“The unfortunate bit of it is that in the third world, we don’t have enough control or enough say onto the big players in the data and AI industry. We are negligible. When you come and you say, me as Uganda, I’m going to block Facebook. How much revenue will Facebook lose? When even 50% of your people will go on to VPN and access it, including government officials. I see some Government officials posting on Facebook but it’s banned,” he said.
According to him, African countries need to build synergies from a continental perspective to mitigate associated cyber risks, such as data breaches and privacy violations.
“How many of us use Wi-Fi at airports, especially when you go abroad, you’re looking for Wi Fi. You don’t know whether it’s safe, or not. Immediately you connect and then you accept cookies and these guys (big tech companies) harvest. Then they say, if you want to unsubscribe, you unsubscribe. You try to unsubscribe like a thousand times and you can’t. So, we are giving away too much without knowing the implications,” Tayebwa cited.
With these gaps fixed and proper business positioning, he expressed optimism that the country and continent stand to benefit a great deal from this technological revolution. Deducing from a conversation, he recently had with the Irish Ambassador to Uganda Kevin Colgan shared the immense benefits Digital Technologies present.
“Ireland, I think might be among the few countries in the world that have a surplus budget and it’s because of tech. They don’t produce anything in Ireland but have virtual offices in Ireland. But they tell you, the commercial office of Ireland in California is bigger than its embassy in Washington because that is what is making money. They want to attract Google and everyone. California, if it was a country on its own, I think it would be the fifth or sixth largest economy in the whole world and as a country, we don’t even have an honorary consul,” he wondered.
“I have some little business in the tech industry. I no longer need to have servers at my office. I just pay the cloud. I pay my 200 dollars. I get space on the cloud, and I have a very valuable service because someone has invested in that as a business instead of me trying to forge around that I also run servers in my office in Kampala,” Tayebwa added.
Fast forward, he noted that seemingly small actions, like establishing a presence in digital hubs such as Korea, can make a significant difference. Yet, Tayebwa pointed out the irony that we have an embassy in Iran.
He added that, time and again, African nations have missed opportunities to transform their economies due to ‘myopic’ politics, pointing to a recent incident in Kenya where citizens wanted the former US ambassador Megan Whiteman banished yesterday.
“I was tipping my brothers in Kenya who were having an online movement saying Megan Whiteman should leave because she was interfering with Kenyan politics. She has left but how many billionaires, how many people who have been CEOs of companies like eBay can accept to be an ambassador in the developing world like East Africa. You get an opportunity and then allow politics to come in, instead of helping you to build a Silicon Valley in Africa,” Tayebwa pointed out.
With AI and data analytics rapidly advancing, Uganda is laying the groundwork to harness their potential while addressing challenges like integration and skills deficits. The goal is clear: to transform public and private sectors for a more efficient, data-driven future