At the recent "State of the Digital Economy" conference organized by Next Media, a panel of experts convened to discuss the critical topic of "Shaping Uganda's Digital Future: AI, Skills, and Inclusion in the Digital Economy." This event, part of a larger initiative focused on "Discovering Uganda's Digital Potential," brought together key figures from various sectors to explore strategies for advancing Uganda's digital landscape.

The panel, moderated by Sabrina Atwiine, Product Manager at The Innovation Village, featured a range of perspectives from industry leaders:

The panel emphasized that human capital is the lifeblood of innovation and growth in the digital economy. Investing in skills development, digital literacy, and education programs is crucial to empower individuals and ensure they have the capabilities to thrive in a technology-driven world. With the emergence of AI, the panel noted that a new kind of skill needs to be developed. A skilled workforce is essential to develop and implement new technologies, create innovative products and services, and navigate the complexities of the digital landscape.

Elizabeth Ngonzi drew a compelling parallel between Uganda's current digital transformation efforts and its successful campaign against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1990s. She emphasized the government's comprehensive approach during the AIDS crisis, which involved sensitizing the entire population and could serve as a model for driving digital adoption.

"The country has set a precedent for being able to get people to adopt something, to change their behavior," Ms. Ngonzi explained. "If we use strategies like that when we're talking about something that's like a national imperative, I think that gives us a nice basis in terms of looking how we move forward."

A key theme that emerged was the importance of inclusive strategies in digital transformation. Ms. Ngonzi stressed the need to involve not just the private and public sectors, but also the social sector and local communities.

"We definitely need to have community involvement because if we're talking about last-mile solutions, we're talking about people in the local communities," she said. "We have to make sure their voices are included because the solutions people have in their own local context are probably different from the way we look at things."

Bwiire Francis from UICT highlighted the need to shift focus in education from certification to practical skills. "We have found that most of the youth or people who go to school today are more interested in gathering certificates and not getting the real skill," he noted. This observation underscores the importance of aligning education with the practical needs of the digital economy.

Francis further emphasized the need for a mindset change: "If we are going to move digital skilling and make it more relevant to the digital economy, we need to move away from this business of mining papers. You'll find somebody has done a number of certifications but is not very productive. He has a degree, he has a masters, but he cannot produce, he's not productive."

The panel also touched on the crucial need for robust infrastructure to support digital learning and access. The high cost of internet connectivity remains a significant hurdle in achieving widespread digital access, a challenge that needs addressing to ensure inclusive growth in the digital economy.

The transformative potential of AI in Uganda's digital economy was a hot topic of discussion. Experts noted that AI tools could significantly benefit small businesses, solopreneurs, and under-resourced organizations by providing access to powerful capabilities. However, the panel emphasized the importance of proper AI usage and training to maximize its benefits.

Elizabeth Ngonzi stressed the importance of effective AI usage: "It's like with anything with technology - garbage in, garbage out. If you don't prompt these tools effectively, you're never going to get a good response." She emphasized that using AI is an iterative process, requiring users to provide context about who they are, what they want to do, and how they want the output. "You really need to make sure that you, as the human, keep yourself in the loop and you're the one who is validating what is ultimately going to be sent out to people," she added.

Ngonzi also highlighted the potential of AI to level the playing field for underresourced individuals and organizations. She noted that tools like ChatGPT can provide capabilities that were previously out of reach for many, such as grant writing and content creation.

The event highlighted the importance of fostering dialogue and creating synergies among government bodies, NGOs, and private companies to advance Uganda's digital economy. Primera Muthoni from Centenary Technology Services contributed to the discussion on innovation and business development in the tech sector, highlighting their initiatives to address digital skills gaps.

Muthoni shared, "We launched a program in December 2022, in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, MTN, and other partners, aimed at addressing these issues. The first phase is already done, and there were a lot of learnings, a lot of businesses and individuals supported in the area of ICT learning." She added that the program has expanded, with the second phase launching in June to accommodate about 8,000 youth across different regions over the next 2 to 3 years.

The panel emphasized the critical need for digital literacy as a foundation for workforce development. Muthoni stressed, "Before we even speak about the tools, the platforms, before we even talk about them, the youth or adults in the workforce, we need to be able to ensure that they actually have the knowledge."

She highlighted the importance of starting with basics: "I want to be able to go to spaces and someone says, 'At least I've been able to switch on a computer, I've been able to use a laptop.' As basic as that, before we actually even start saying, 'Let's talk about work readiness, let's give them more technology.'"

As Uganda continues its digital transformation journey, the insights from this panel discussion emphasize the importance of learning from past successes, ensuring inclusivity, leveraging AI responsibly, and addressing infrastructure and education challenges. By adopting a collaborative approach that involves all sectors of society and draws on the expertise of leaders like those present at this event, Uganda can build a digital economy that benefits all its citizens and positions the country for success in the global digital landscape.

The organizers from Next Media, including Eugene Kavuma, Edwin Danze, and Ben Mwine, played a crucial role in bringing together these diverse perspectives. Their efforts in recognizing and elevating young contributors to the ecosystem are vital for the continued growth and transformation of Uganda's digital economy.

The panel discussion was part of a larger initiative to shape Uganda's digital landscape. Viewers were encouraged to mark July 26th on their calendars for an upcoming event that will bring together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors to collaborate on Uganda's digital growth and digital citizenship.

The insights shared in this article only scratch the surface of the rich discussion that took place. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of Uganda's digital future and the strategies being proposed by industry leaders, we encourage you to watch the full panel recording.

Watch Now: Experience the complete "Shaping Uganda's Digital Future" panel discussion

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Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from Elizabeth Ngonzi, Primera Muthoni, Bwiire Francis, and other industry leaders as they delve into the challenges and opportunities shaping Uganda's digital economy.

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