Digital Transformation Roadmap Pillars

As we write, even before the launch of the final Digital Transformation Roadmap, many stakeholders have already idntified their areas of interest. We take this positively since it will support implementation of the Roadmap. Below are five key intervention areas as per the Digital Uganda Vision:

Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity

The National Broadband Baseline Survey (2022) identified gaps for improvement of the broadband value chain in Uganda. The key issues identified correlate with the performance of the country in the various indexes related to ICT infrastructure. These issues cut across three stages of the broadband value chain as noted below:

The first focusing on the first mile shows that international connectivity to neighbouring countries is adequate. However, the study identified room for growth given the landlocked nature of the country and the opportunity to act as a hub for neighbouring countries on connectivity. 

The second focusing on the middle mile shows a lot of limitations. The middle mile includes national backbone, data centres, internet exchange points, content distribution networks which are important components for driving increased usage of internet-based services and applications. As such, access to fiber nodes (where users can be connected) is limited with only 29% of the population living within 10km of such nodes. 

The third focusing on the last mile shows significant challenges. Broadband adoption is low despite good broadband coverage and relatively fast speeds. Whereas over time, the cost of data for end users and organizations has reduced, affordability was identified as a challenge. The survey reported that mobile broadband is cheap in absolute terms but not affordable in relative terms for the masses. In addition, smart phone penetration is still low with over 70% of connected phones categorized as feature/basic phones. Another aspect of last mile is the current limitations in the use of traditional postal addresses which creates challenges in delivery of physical goods and e-trade logistics. 

In addition, the survey identified limitations that cut across broadband policies, legal and regulatory overlaps and complexity, spectrum licensing as well as investments in Radio Access Networks and Fiber. More specifics are in the Digital Transformation Roadmap.

Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy

Uganda has performed fairly and has been consistently rated in the top percentile of indexes on the continent and in the region. However, the cyber threat landscape keeps on evolving. In addition, the increase in use of digital services across both public and private sector increases the cyber risk and exposure of the country. The potential for the total transformation of the economy and the attendant social impact is best demonstrated by the pervasive expansion and use of mobile money services in Uganda. Also, to note, the Digital Uganda Vision focuses on building a digitally enabled society that is agile and able to adapt to emerging technologies and trends. Cybersecurity continues to be a challenge in Uganda and the share of cyber related (computer) crimes in total economic crimes is on the rise. Therefore, it is important to have in place a robust and solid cybersecurity approach that establishes measures to ensure security of digitalization process and help to protect Uganda and her citizens in cyberspace. It’s based on this, that the current National Cybersecurity Strategy (2022) adopted the whole-of nation principle where reduction of overall national cyber risk is a shared responsibility. In addition, Uganda has a robust legal and regulatory framework for data protection and privacy with an operationalized Personal Data Protection Office. 

Digital Skilling

The Fourth Industrial Revolution in which we now live require citizens to have basic digital literacy in order to interact, navigate and make use of digital content and services. In addition, the workplace is changing across Government and private sector through the fast adoption of ICT. This change is increasingly affecting all sectors and professionals. Job creators will also require digital literacy skills. The present way of work and life is fast getting digital. The implication of this change is that we must be forward looking and integrate digital skills within our education system as early as the entry level of primary school. This will require retooling for the teachers as well as education for the students. The primary and tertiary uptake of ICT is still limited due to a mix of factors that involve funding, infrastructure, teaching skills gaps and electricity challenges. Overall, digital skilling is still laced with challenges to achieve the desired critical mass of students that have been readied for the fourth industrial revolution.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

To a large extent, the ICT products and services used across public and private have been developed elsewhere. The local innovation and startup landscape is still nascent and therefore we have imitated local commercialized ICT products. The local startup ecosystem involves a few innovation hubs and Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) with most of them concentrated within Kampala Capital City and limited areas out of Kampala. There are still operational challenges related to providing support on quality and lobbying support Government MDAs to accept use of products and services developed by Ugandan startups and also drive utility value as well as commercialization.