Yesterday, the National ICT Innovation Hub hosted the 9th National Conference on Communications under the theme “Harnessing Digital Innovation to Power Sustainable Local Solutions.” The gathering brought together innovators, policymakers, and researchers to explore how technology can drive Uganda’s transformation.
The conference showcased over 70 innovation papers submitted by students and researchers a strong signal that Uganda’s young people are not just consumers of technology, but creators of solutions shaping the nation’s future.
Addressing the innovators, the call was clear: innovation must be anchored in purpose. Beyond buzzwords and inventions for their own sake, technology must tackle the real challenges that Ugandans face, while aligning with national goals of building a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable country.
But barriers persist. With only 35% of Ugandans owning smartphones, millions remain excluded from the digital economy. Affordable devices and inclusive policies are no longer optional they are essential if innovation is to transform lives.
The Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Nyombi Thembo, emphasized the role of collective responsibility: “We must all be participators in the digital economy, not just as consumers, but as enablers and innovators.”
The challenge now lies with industry players, regulators, and policymakers: to take bold steps that make digital access affordable, inclusive, and universal. Because digital transformation is not just a telecom ambition it is a national imperative.
The choices Uganda makes today will determine whether the nation’s digital ecosystem merely survives, or truly thrives and becomes unstoppable.
