The government of Uganda is stepping up efforts to help Ugandan technology innovators reach international markets by connecting them to global exhibitions, digital platforms and potential business partners. Through the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, local innovators are being given opportunities to showcase their products beyond Uganda as part of the country’s broader push to grow its digital economy.
The initiative was highlighted during a review meeting of the Uganda-Japan ICT Innovation Network Project, also known as UJ-Connect, held in Kampala. Speaking at the meeting, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Aminah Zawedde, said one of the biggest challenges facing young innovators is turning their ideas into successful businesses.
While Uganda has many talented young people developing digital solutions, reaching customers and finding markets for those products remains difficult. To help address the problem, the government has supported innovators to take part in international technology and digital exhibitions in countries including Japan, Dubai, Vietnam and Morocco.
These events provide local innovators with an opportunity to showcase their work, learn from developments in other countries and create connections with potential partners and investors. The ministry is also looking at digital platforms as another way of promoting Ugandan innovations.
Dr Zawedde pointed to BizLink, a platform where innovators can register, saying it could be used to showcase their projects to a wider audience and improve their visibility.
The UJ-Connect project, which is being implemented with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, has focused on equipping young ICT professionals with practical skills, mentorship and connections to businesses. More than 600 young people in the ICT sector have benefited from the programme so far.
With the project expected to end in about six months, the government is now looking at how the skills and opportunities created through the initiative can continue. One of the plans is to incorporate the project’s training and mentorship programmes into the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Nakawa.
The ministry is also considering the creation of a database for newly graduated ICT professionals. The registry would make it easier for foreign companies and investors looking for technical talent in Uganda to identify and recruit skilled workers. JICA Uganda Chief Representative Osaki Mitsuhiro said Uganda has significant potential in the ICT sector but stressed the importance of continued investment, support and stronger connections to markets.
Some beneficiaries of the UJ-Connect programme said the initiative had given them valuable practical experience through interaction with technology companies and professionals. However, challenges remain.
Limited access to quality infrastructure and gaps in technical capacity continue to affect the ability of some local developers to compete at the same level as their counterparts in more advanced technology markets.
The government is also continuing with the National ICT Initiatives Support Programme, which is aimed at supporting locally developed digital products and encouraging wider use of Ugandan technology solutions in both the public and private sectors.
As Uganda continues its digital transformation journey, the focus is increasingly shifting beyond developing new ideas to ensuring that those ideas can find customers, attract investment and compete in markets outside the country.