Report calls for legislation to keep pace with AI adoption

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most sought-after technologies today. It has gradually become an integral part of our lives, and with ongoing advancements, it is difficult to imagine working without it.

As AI technology evolves rapidly, Uganda, like many other African countries, is not only striving to adopt it but is also working to establish regulations to govern its use.

“Artificial Intelligence is reshaping economies, redefining industries, and presenting new opportunities across Africa. From agriculture to healthcare, education to security, AI holds immense potential to drive progress and innovation. Yet, as we embrace these possibilities, we must also confront the significant challenges AI introduces—challenges that intersect with human rights, ethics, and governance,” remarked Francis Gimara, the head of ALP East Africa.

▪️ AI Infrastructure: Uganda, Africa playing catch-up

Ambrose Ruyooka, the head of research at the ICT ministry appends his signature on the report placard after the report was launched. (Credit: ALP East Africa)

He noted that although the use of AI was growing at a breathtaking speed, it’s development and use thrive in environments with nascent or, in certain situations, nonexistent regulations which exposes the community to adverse effects such as discrimination, data exploitation, and privacy invasion.

“This calls for concerted efforts to avert the risks associated with the deployment of AI while making sure that laws don't impede creativity.”

He made the remarks during the launch of their research report; “Report on Laws, Policies, and Strategies relating to AI in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mauritius, and Zambia” on Monday, November 25th, 2024.

The research was done in collaboration with Paradigm Initiative, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and East African law firms including Bowmans Law Tanzania, K-Solutions & Partners (ALN Rwanda) and Triple OK Law.

‘Keeping pace with AI adoption’

The research which examines legal and policy frameworks governing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Mauritius, and Zambia has called for immediate legislative action to keep pace with AI adoption on the continent.

“It is evident that without swift and comprehensive legislative action, the region risks falling behind in AI’s ethical and effective governance, which has significant implications for human rights and societal well-being,” the report warns.

Among the seven countries scrutinised, Mauritius is the only country with AI-specific laws within the financial sector through the Financial Services (Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Enabled Advisory Services) Rules of 2021. At the same time, the research findings show that Kenya and Rwanda are making great strides toward AI-focused legislation.

The report states that most jurisdictions, except South Sudan, rely on soft laws or general laws, such as data protection regulations, to partially govern AI without dedicated legislation. It has also established that only Rwanda and Uganda have made considerable progress in addressing ethical AI and human rights.

“Rwanda’s national AI policy and Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act exemplify a human-rights-centered approach to AI governance,” the report states.

Besides examining policies and laws, the study also looks at stakeholder involvement in policy-making within the seven countries. It points to gaps in clear guidelines on how public participation should be conducted, despite the fact that most countries see the need for it in their constitutions.

“In many cases, participation is limited to select stakeholders such as notable non-governmental organisations and experts, often excluding the broader public input,” the report explains, adding that the issue is glaring in Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and Zambia where information on the involvement of stakeholders is limited.

The report recommends that the current approaches may be inadequate to address the regulatory challenges posed by AI, proposing that laws be benchmarked against global standards such as UNESCO’s recommendations on AI ethics.

The research which examines legal and policy frameworks governing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Mauritius, and Zambia has called for immediate legislative action to keep pace with AI adoption. (Credit: ALP East Africa)

“Key policy recommendations for AI governance across East Africa, Zambia and Mauritius include enhancing public awareness campaigns to foster informed public participation, urging policymakers to commit to human rights and ethical principles in AI development, and establishing clear provisions and guidelines to ensure meaningful public involvement in the policymaking process,” the report adds.

Uganda’s digital transformation roadmap

According to Ambrose Ruyooka, the head of research at the ICT ministry who represented the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Aminah Zawedde, at the launch, Uganda's digital transformation roadmap and the cabinet's research resolution, developed during a retreat with government secretaries at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, demonstrate the government's commitment to leveraging AI for the transformation of the public sector.

“The cabinet resolution calls for accelerating the use of technology to guide digital transformation and e-government by automating business processes; prioritising funding for AI initiatives; developing an AI policy with an implementation roadmap and a risk management strategy; investing in building the capacity of users, including legal practitioners and leveraging ICT to embed government systems and embracing AI,” Ruyooka revealed.

He added that the ICT ministry had also been tasked with coordinating with all stakeholders to ensure that these resolutions are implemented.

“As a region, we must align our efforts to ensure that AI adoption is not only transformative but also inclusive and ethical. I encourage you all to reflect on how AI can support your work and engage deeply with the findings and recommendations of the report. Together, we can build a future where AI is a tool for enhancing justice, fostering involvement and driving innovation,” Ruyooka stated, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to driving a digital transformation agenda, including fostering the responsible use of AI across all sectors.