Uganda, through the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) Uganda, has laid 4,387 kilometers of optic fiber cable across 57 districts which I believe is a bold statement on Uganda’s commitment to connectivity. On top of that, 1,567 government sites including MDAs and DLGs are plugged into the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) with access to fast, reliable internet which has become a norm, not an exception.

This is more than infrastructure, it’s a lifeline to better public services, especially in health, education, and governance.

See also: Pres. Museveni launches Phase 5 of the NBI to extend internet connectivity to Karamoja, Lango, and Acholi sub-regions

This connectivity is not only about the government but also empowers businesses to innovate, entrepreneurs to thrive, and students to access global learning resources. The ripple effect will be felt in every corner of the economy, fostering a culture of digital inclusion.

Today, the dramatic reduction in internet prices from USD$205 (approx. UGX752,000) in FY 2021/22 to USD$35 (approx. UGX129,000) marks a turning point. Affordable connectivity is no longer a luxury for the elite but a necessary tool for all, democratizing access to information, leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs, and accelerating innovation. In addition, internet penetration has soared from 25% in 2017 to 67%, putting Uganda as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation. This is not just about access; it is about unlocking human potential on a massive scale.

Digital governance

62% of government services have so far been digitized which is a transforming milestone for public service delivery. Gone are the days of endless queues and bureaucratic red tape. From applying for official documents to paying taxes, Ugandans can now access vital services online, in the comfort of their offices and homes. This shift not only enhances efficiency but also boosts transparency and accountability, essential pillars for good governance. It is a model for how governments can leverage technology to serve their citizens better and foster trust.

Empowering education and public access

ICT in education is the cornerstone of Uganda’s digital future. The government has established ICT labs in 1,400 public secondary schools and provided high-speed internet to 485 schools, these are all investments for not only the current generation of school-going ages but the next generations too. It is also an innovation that will produce future creators and innovators, these young minds are being equipped with the skills to thrive in a digital economy, ensuring that Uganda’s workforce remains competitive in a global marketplace.

Furthermore, 37 national libraries and public access centers have been upgraded with ICT facilities to ensure that even those without personal access to technology can still benefit from the digital revolution. This is true inclusivity in action.

Expanding media and mobile coverage

Digital terrestrial TV and radio signal coverage is now at 85% and 90% respectively, and mobile cellular signal coverage reaching 89%, Uganda’s communication landscape has never been more vibrant. This expanded reach ensures that every Ugandan, regardless of location, can access vital information and entertainment, fostering a more informed and engaged citizenry.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the progress is remarkable, there is still work to be done. Expanding optic fiber coverage to all districts, increasing broadband penetration, and ensuring that digital literacy keeps pace with technological advancements are critical next steps.

However, the foundation has been laid, and the momentum is unstoppable. Uganda’s commitment to ICT as a driver of national productivity and global competitiveness is clear. The challenge now is to ensure that this digital transformation benefits every Ugandan, leaving no one behind.

A Future Full of Promise

Uganda’s ICT achievements are more than just technological milestones. They are the building blocks of a brighter, more inclusive future. By continuing to invest in connectivity, affordability, and digital skills, Uganda is not just keeping up with the digital age, it is leading the charge. This is a moment to celebrate, but also a call to action: to dream bigger, innovate further, and ensure that every Ugandan can thrive in this new digital era.

Editor’s Note: The article was written by Caroline Mbolanyi, Communications Officer at Government Citizen Interaction Centre at State House

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Dr. Mugasa expressed that because of the NBI Project, government services have managed to go online with more than 1,400 Ministries, Agencies, and Local Government (MDAs) offices now utilizing e-Services such as integrated management systems, e-tax, e-passports, hence saving a huge chunk of money and time that would have been spent on making services available to Ugandans.

“By digitalizing government processes and hosting them at the National Data Centre, NITA-U has managed to saves the government more than UGX4 trillion (roughly USD$1.1 billion) annually in direct public expenditure,” says Dr. Mugasa. “This cuts cost that would have to be spent on paper, manual processes, and data centres service fees for each MDA.”

Dr. Mugasa applauded Huawei Technologies whom they have been working with for more than 10 years since the National Backbone Infrastructure/e-Government Infrastructure (NBI/EGI) Project was started —rolling out over 4,172km of backbone fibre cable in over 62 districts across the country.

After the Fourth Phase of the NBI/EGI Project which extends internet connectivity to districts of Pakwach, Nebbi, Arua, Yumbe, Koboko, Adjumani, Katakwi, and the border points of, Oraba, Vurra, and Mpondwe. The government through NITA-U launched the commissioned the “Last Mile Phase” to extend internet connectivity to the grassroots user all the way to the Parish.

Dr. Mugasa confirmed that “In a few weeks from now, NITA-U shall have completed 764KM under the Last Mile Phase and citizens shall be able to access e-Government services at 1,400 administrative locations.”

Ms. Amy Xia, Huawei’s Vice President Enterprise Business Group emphasized the need for digitalization because it is currently an industry consensus. She noted that Huawei has heavily invested in research and development to benefit countries like Uganda and aid them in their digital process.

“As digital transformation has become an industry consensus, the focus has been shifted from whether or not to go digital, to how to go digital,” said Xia. “Huawei has invested heavily in research and development for Uganda so that we can achieve the creation of new value together.”

Xia said they have carefully considered exhibiting the various technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, among others so that Huawei Technologies can “walk together with Uganda on their [Uganda] digital journey.”

The Minister of ICT and National Guidance Hon. Chris Baryomunsi while delivering his remarks yesterday at the Huawei ICT Congress said the government is fast-tracking digital in order to achieve the 2040 Digital Vision.

“One of the reasons why we came up with the 2040 Uganda Digital Vision is to effectively use and encourage the adoption of mature and emerging technologies,” said Baryomunsi. “So I am deeply impressed by Huawei’s advanced technology, especially their Huawei achievements in network security and 5G technology.”

According to Baryomunsi, ICT is one of Uganda’s fastest-growing sectors and a major driver to Uganda’s middle-income status just as the 2040 Digital vision states. He emphasized that because of this reason, the government is fast-tracking digital to harness new emerging technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data exhibited at the Huawei ICT Congress.

“We need to look to the future of digital and start implementing the necessary digital infrastructure so that we are not left behind,” Baryomunsi said. Adding that “In building robust ultra-high speed, pervasive, intelligent and trusted high-speed ICT infrastructure across 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 Huawei ICT Congress 2022 is a mirror of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) which is annually held in Barcelona where Huawei has been a top exhibitor showcasing the latest technology.

The Huawei ICT Congress 2022 with the theme “Lighting up the Future” organized by Huawei Uganda is aimed at helping businesses and ICT users such as governments, telecoms, regulators, and enterprises innovate business models, improve quality and efficiency, enhance the experience, and strengthen resilience in their digital work and productivity, and digital service processes.

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The Minister was in Masaka to officially open a Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) branch —which she said was a milestone to the registration body [URSB].

Prior opening the URSB Masaka branch, Nabakooba toured the transmission sites in Masaka which are the communications hub in the City providing access to services in a transparent and effective way to both public and the private sectors. The sites are part of the government’s National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) project that seeks to connect districts and towns across the country via an optical fibre cable network —to reduce the cost of the internet, support delivery of secure e-Government services as well as enhance communications services in Uganda.

In Masaka, so far the Ministry through NITA-U has connected 14 Government entities including; Bank of Uganda, Electoral Commission, NSSF, NIRA, NWSC, URA, Kitovu Hospital, Micro Finance Support Center, Nkozi University, Masaka Referral Hospital Marie Stopes Clinic. And now adds URSB.

Nabakooba was proud to say that the Masaka Refferal hospital which we connected under phase 3 of the NBI project has been able to apply telemedicine services as well as automate patient records through integrated its Health Management System.

While addressing members of the press at the opening of the URSB Masaka branch, Nabakooba said, “ICT is a vital enabler of ensuring efficient and cost effective service delivery to citizens. My Ministry has been working hard on several fronts to improve service delivery across the country through working hard to have an automated government to deliver e-Services to its citizens.”

“To achieve this, government is utilizing the National Optical Fiber Cable Backbone installed along all highways to Kampala to connect government offices to the internet to ensure automation within government,” Nabakooba adds.

The government though NITA-U completed the implementation of the Phase IV of the NBI Project last year, successfully connecting 49 districts, 609 government offices, and are now are implementing the Last Mile Connectivity Project which is aimed at further expanding the coverage of the NBI through laying of approximately 732km of fiber optic cable and connecting an additional 700 sites to the NBI with an additional 300 Wi-Fi Hotspots.

So, far a cumulative total of 350 out of 700 sites including but not limited to Local Governments, hospitals, schools, universities, among others have been connected under the Last Mile Project.

Nabakooba after opening the URSB branch in Masaka, she headed to Mutukula, border town between Uganda and Tanzania where she inspected the Police, URA, Immigration office, and Minister of Agriculture on how they utilizing the internet to deliver services to citizens.

Nabakooba said Uganda is now a fully-fledged communications hub with 7 of its major border posts all connected to the NBI which further strengthens regional ties.

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The commission was held in Mbarara where Mugasa and his team from NITA Uganda along with some Government officials inspected the project starting with the Transmission site that will be used as the switching and distribution centre of the NBI in Mbrarara.

After inspecting the Transmission Site, they visited the National Security Social Fund (NSSF) Mbarara office which is connected to the NBI under Last Mile Project and is expected to bring services closer to the citizens.

The inspection concluded at CamTech; an innovation and technology hub based in Mbarara. NITA Uganda provides internet, technical and financial support to the hub towards their Annual Medical Tech Hackathons.

CamTech applauded NITA Uganda for providing the “best” internet at Campus (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) emphasizing that it has enabled continuity of innovations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While visiting the National Data Center in Jinja in February this, the State Minister of ICT and National Guidance: Hon. Peter Ogwang said NITA Uganda completed three NBI phases with the fourth phase almost in its completion.

He further told reporters that the fifth phase of the NBI project will be launched after the fourth phase is completed and will address the issue of connectivity to the final customers like; Health Centers and Schools around the country. We therefore assume that the Fifth Phase of the NBI project is the Last Mile Project.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Phase of the NBI extended internet connectivity to districts of Pakwach, Nebbi, Arua, Yumbe, Koboko, Adjumani, Katakwi and the boarder points of, Oraba, Vurra and Mpondwe. The phase also positioned Uganda as a regional communications transit hub — this includes laying the groundwork for an eventual backbone connection between the submarine cables on the east and west coasts of Africa

NITA Uganda with funding from the World Bank implemented the National Backbone Infrastructure and eGovernment Infrastructure (NBI/EGI) project to connect districts and towns across the country. This included Government offices via an optical fibre cable network so as to reduce the cost of the internet.

As a result of these connections the cost of internet of across Government entities has progressively reduced from USD$1,200 (roughly UGX4,472,880) per Mbps monthly USD$70 (roughly UGX260,918) per Mbps monthly. The cost was projected to drop further to USD$50 (roughly UGX186,370) by the end of 2020, however Saaka said, “the cost of internet to should drop further to USD$20 (roughly UGX74,548) per Mbps and he was confident NITA Uganda will achieve this.” He made these remarks while he was handing over office to Mugasa in August this year.

The overall objective of the project is to; create a secure high-speed network that connects all Government MDAs, District Local Governments, Municipal Councils, Hospital, and Schools as well as lower the cost of communication across Government and spur the development of online Government services.

The deployment of the eGovernment platform as part of the NBI/EGI project has led to the increased transparency of Government activities, enabled departments to share public data and enhance inter-departmental coordination, reduced government administration costs, and generally improved work efficiency.

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Saaka in his remarks said, quote; “Internet connectivity is crucial for tourism development.” Therefore, the 57 sites will be part of NITA’s National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) project.

The plan is to connect up-to 96 sites including; parks and hotels. First phase will see 39 sites connected — though the estimated price wasn’t revealed. Connecting the remaining 57 sites to the NBI will require an estimated UGX16.95 billion.

The regions to benefit include; Semliki, Kibale, Rwenzori, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Mountain Elgon.

Effective and high-speed ICT infrastructure and software applications in the tourism and hospitality industry are crucial for tourism development, according to NITA-U. The firm said today, the government is encouraging and welcoming innovations in the tourism industry.

One of the government programs pushing for tourism innovations is the National ICT Initiatives Support Programme (NIISP).

NIISP primarily aims at facilitating growth and development of software applications and innovations focusing on Education, Health, Agriculture, and Tourism industries. This year, a total of 60 startups/innovations shared NIISP grant of UGX6 billion.

Saaka has called on the youth on embracing NIISP so as to access funds to build digital solutions for the tourism industry.

The government is as well trying to close the ICT related gap issues in tourism including; making travel & hospitality websites mobile-friendly. Other concerning issues include; training tourism players on ICT usage, calling-on enterprises to utilize social media for business development purposes, integrating enterprises with the updated ICTs, among others.

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Uganda’s President Museveni has ordered Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to block an imminent approval of an additional loan to a Chinese firm implementing government’s fibre optic cable project.

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