COUNTRY FOCUS : UGANDA
There have been positive developments in the growth of Internet infrastructure across Uganda , through investments by NITA , Google , Facebook , MTN , Airtel , Raxio , but last mile connectivity and startup ecosystem remain challenged .
Global players invest in Internet connectivity
View of Kampala , capital of Uganda at dusk
Uganda ’ s Digital Transformation Roadmap is anchored in the Uganda Vision 2040 , conceptualised to strengthen the fundamentals of the economy by harnessing the abundant opportunities around the country , including opportunities within the Information and Communications Technology , ICT sector . by focusing on imperatives to achieve operational momentum and make great strides that translate from paper to action . The UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab team is confident that implementation of this Roadmap will over the next five years set a strong foundation upon which digital transformation will accelerate for both public and private sectors .
Uganda ’ s current National Development Plan , NDP III is heavily focussed on increasing investment in ICT as one of the productive sectors able to enhance livelihoods , generate employment , produce goods for export , and import substitution . To drive this further within the ICT sector , the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance developed the Digital Uganda Vision outlining the commitments to accelerate digital transformation and provide support to all sectors of the economy .
The Digital Transformation Roadmap builds on commitments set under the Digital Uganda Vision
Positive gains
Private companies play a lead role in developing Uganda ’ s ICT infrastructure , often in partnership with the government . The National Information Technology Authority-Uganda , NITA , the Ugandan government ’ s technology development agency , has laid over 3,000 km , 1,864 miles of fibre optic cable around the country to connect the second tier of administrative units , sub-counties within each district . Google , through its C-Squared entity has laid over 1,000 km , 621 miles of fibre optic cable in the Kampala metro
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