Uganda fast-tracks use of latest digital technologies - Minister Baryomunsi

Uganda government is fast-tracking digital to harness new emerging technologies to be able to digitize every aspect of key sectors including education, health, and agriculture among others, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance has said.

Presenting at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2023), in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday, February 2023, Dr. Baryomunsi said that the Uganda government is also planning to implement cloud computing and establish a national data lab to enable seamless access to information on all government ministries, agencies, and programmes.

“These days we generate a lot of data as a country and we don’t want to be part of the countries that generate a lot of data but store it outside their countries,” Dr. Baryomunsi said, detailing Uganda’s digital journey in relation to accelerating public service through the digital journey.  

“We know as a country that we can’t transform unless ICT is put at the center of life in all key areas such as health, education, agriculture, he said, noting that all the sectors of public life must embrace technology in order for the country to have accelerated transformation. “We are in the process of having a national lab and data center, and we have established a national backbone structure.”

The Uganda Vision 2040 identifies ICT among the key fundamentals as well as an opportunity to spur Uganda’s transformation into a modern and prosperous country.

Baryomunsi said ICT is now Uganda’s fastest-growing sector and is also a major driver to Uganda’s Middle-income status just as the 2040 Digital vision states.

He explained that in building robust ultra-high speed, intelligent, and trusted high-speed ICT infrastructure all over the country, the government has diligently worked towards expanding the nation’s digitalization in a number of fields, in order to unleash the multiplier effect of ICT on associated secondary and tertiary industries for tremendous impact on the economy.

The Mobile World Congress (MWC 2023) is happening at the Fira de Barcelona convention center between February 27th and March 2nd.

MWC has been a quieter affair for the past couple of years and was canceled entirely in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic. 

More than 80,000 industry experts, researchers, business leaders, and executives are at MWC Barcelona 2023 to watch over 2000 exhibitors and sponsors demonstrating their innovations.

The exhibition technology in smart homes, smart offices, cloud solutions, and safe and smart cities.

The other topics are centering on 5G connectivity, smart cities, and mobile devices.