Uganda's AI Task Force: Running, not crawling, into the future

By Dr Lawrence Muganga

The world is moving at lightning speed. While we deliberate, China is deploying AI at scale across entire sectors. Singapore has made 90% of its public services AI enabled.

India's Digital Agriculture Mission is using artificial intelligence to help millions of smallholder farmers increase yields and predict weather patterns with stunning accuracy.

Meanwhile, Rwanda, our East African neighbor, has established dedicated AI investment funds and is attracting global tech talent. The question facing Uganda is not whether artificial intelligence will transform our future. The question is: will we shape that transformation, or will we be shaped by it?

Last month, I had the privilege of joining Uganda's National Artificial Intelligence Task Force, convened by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. As Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, I have seen firsthand how technology can unlock human potential. Now, as a member of this Task Force, I am convinced of something even more urgent: Uganda must act decisively, and we must act now. Not because AI is interesting.

Because AI is inevitable, and the gap between early movers and laggards is widening every single day.

Why the urgency? The world has already moved on

Let me paint a picture of where the world stands in late 2025. The United States controls 73% of global AI computing power.

China has made AI a cornerstone of its national strategy and is home to 35,000 plus AI researchers. Singapore has invested 743 million dollars in government AI, with adoption rates in healthcare reaching 92% diagnostic accuracy.

Germany is integrating AI into Industry 4.0 manufacturing at scale. India has just launched a 2.8 billion dollar Digital Agriculture Mission to revolutionize farming across the world's most populous nation.

These are not distant dreams. This is happening right now.

Meanwhile, only seven African countries; Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia, have developed national AI programs with meaningful implementation. Uganda is not yet on that list.

While our neighbors move, we risk becoming what many economists call a data colony: a nation that generates enormous amounts of data about its people, its agriculture, its health systems, and its economy but sees none of the innovation value flow back home.

Our data fuels innovation elsewhere. Our problems remain unsolved. Our youth look abroad for jobs in AI rather than building them at home.

This is not inevitable. But the window to change course is closing fast.

The opportunity: Why Uganda cannot afford to wait

Imagine a Uganda where an AI system helps a farmer in Kasese predict the optimal planting date by analyzing soil conditions, weather patterns, and market prices, all in real time.

Where a health worker in a remote clinic uses AI diagnostics to detect malaria or tuberculosis with the same accuracy as a specialist in Kampala. Where a student in Kabale can access personalized learning systems that adapt to their pace and learning style, taught in Luganda.

Where the Uganda Revenue Authority uses AI to identify tax fraud with surgical precision, increasing revenue for schools and hospitals without burdening honest taxpayers. Where every government service, from land registration to business licensing, is faster, smarter, and more accessible to ordinary Ugandans.

This is not science fiction. This is what is already happening in leading nations. And the technology is not geographically locked. It can work for Uganda too, if we build the right foundations now.

Consider agriculture. Uganda's agricultural sector is the backbone of our economy, employing millions. Yet we lose an estimated 20 to 30 percent of our crops to pests, disease, and poor timing.

An AI powered agricultural platform could reduce those losses dramatically. India's new Digital Agriculture Mission combines AI with satellite imagery to give farmers decision support in real time.

Why can't Uganda do the same?

Or healthcare. Uganda faces a chronic shortage of doctors and diagnostic equipment. An AI diagnostic system trained on Ugandan patient data and integrated into our health infrastructure could bring specialist level diagnostics to rural areas where people currently travel hundreds of kilometers to reach a qualified doctor.

Mayo Clinic in the US has AI tools that spot diseases with 91% accuracy. That capability does not disappear at our borders.

Or education. Victoria University is already exploring adaptive learning systems that personalize instruction for every student. Imagine scaling that across Uganda's entire education system. AI can democratize quality teaching by letting every student progress at their own pace, in their own language, with their own learning style honored. This is especially powerful for a nation with our demographic profile: young, aspirational, and eager to compete globally.

The economic prize is enormous. The McKinsey Global Survey on AI estimates that AI could contribute between 15 and 20 percent to global GDP growth over the next decade. Nations that integrate AI early will capture a disproportionate share of this value creation. Nations that delay will watch opportunities flow to competitors.

What Other Countries Are Doing and What We Must Learn

Let me be specific about our competitors and examples.

Singapore's Playbook: With a population smaller than Kampala's, Singapore recognized that AI was not optional.bThe government invested 743 million dollars through its National AI Strategy, prioritized AI talent development, and mandated that 90% of public services integrate AI. Today, citizens can complete most government transactions through AI enabled systems. Singapore is not inherently smarter than us. It simply moved first and with conviction.

Rwanda's Momentum: Our neighbor Rwanda established the Rwanda AI Center and created investment mechanisms like the Rwanda Seed Investment Fund specifically to co invest in AI startups alongside private investors. Within a few years, Rwanda has become a hub for AI innovation in East Africa. This is the trajectory we must match.

India's Scale: India's new Digital Agriculture Mission, launched in September 2024 with a ₹2,817 crore budget, is building AI infrastructure for agriculture targeting over 600 million farmers.
India recognized that AI is not a luxury. It is essential infrastructure for a developing economy. The system will monitor soil health, predict weather, and automate equipment decisions at scale.

The US and EU Model: These regions moved fast but also built governance first. The US FDA has approved over 520 AI based medical devices, more than the next five countries combined. The EU is building AI governance frameworks that protect citizens while enabling innovation. The UK hosted the world's first AI Safety Summit. These examples show us: you can move fast and also move responsibly.

The common thread? Countries that act early with clear vision, adequate funding, and integrated governance attract talent, investment, and innovation. Countries that wait watch opportunities pass them by.

Uganda's task force: A roadmap for running, not crawling

Our National AI Task Force is tasked with one fundamental mission: positioning Uganda not as a follower, but as a leader in ethical, inclusive AI innovation. Our mandate spans three critical pillars:

First: Governance and Ethics That Protect Ugandans

We are developing a rights based AI policy framework aligned with Uganda's Constitution and laws. This is not about restriction. It is about building smart guardrails.

We need transparent policies that:

1. Protect Ugandan data as a national asset, preventing the "data colony" trap

2. Ensure AI systems used in government and finance are explainable and accountable

3. Prevent algorithmic bias that could discriminate against minorities or marginalized groups

4. Mandate that AI systems serving Ugandans are safe and secure

Countries that build governance first, like the UK and Singapore, attract responsible investment and build citizen trust. Countries that ignore governance risk building systems that backfire when things go wrong.

Second: Skills and inclusion that unleash our youth

Uganda's median age is 15. We have one of the world's youngest populations. This is our greatest asset, but only if we equip them with skills for the AI economy. Our Task Force perhaps should be recommend:

1. Integration of AI literacy into secondary school curricula

2. Targeted technical training programs for youth interested in AI careers

3. Partnerships with universities to build world class AI research programs

4. Support for young Ugandans to build AI startups, not migrate to Silicon Valley

Rwanda is already doing this. So is Kenya. If we wait, the most talented young Ugandans will seek opportunities elsewhere.

Third: Infrastructure and Data That Serve Uganda

We are advocating for investments in:

1. Computing infrastructure, including data centers and cloud connectivity, that is reliable and secure

2. Open data policies that let startups and researchers innovate

3. Digital infrastructure that connects rural Uganda to digital services

4. Standards and interoperability so that AI systems built here can talk to each other

This is not cheap. But it is cheaper than being left behind.

Five reasons why we cannot wait

1. Economic Competitiveness

AI is not a nice-to-have. It is the defining general purpose technology of our era. Nations that master AI create value chains, attract investment, and generate good jobs. Nations that do not become data colonies exporting raw information for others to monetize. The global AI economy is expected to reach 2 trillion dollars over the next five years. What share will Uganda claim?

2. Service delivery that actually works

Our government services are often slow, opaque, and inaccessible to ordinary Ugandans. AI can change that. Automated permit processing, AI enabled tax systems, smart health diagnostics, and predictive maintenance of infrastructure can make government work better for citizens. Singapore did not introduce AI to impress tech companies. They did it to make citizens' lives better.

3. Youth empowerment in a jobless world

Global unemployment is rising. Automation is eliminating traditional jobs. But AI creates new opportunities for those with skills. Uganda's young population will either be equipped to build and deploy AI, or they will be displaced by it. There is no middle ground. We must choose to equip them.

4. Trust and rights in an algorithm-driven world

AI systems make increasingly consequential decisions about our lives: who gets a loan, who gets hired, who gets diagnosed. Without proper governance, these systems can amplify bias and injustice. Uganda must build AI systems that are trustworthy, transparent, and aligned with our values. This is not optional. It is essential to prevent future harms.
 
5. Regional leadership that attracts investment

East Africa is becoming a hub for technology and innovation. Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania are all moving forward with AI strategies. Uganda can be the leader in this region, or we can be second tier. Leadership attracts talent, investment, and partnership. Second tier means playing catch up forever.

What we're asking from government, business, and society

The Task Force cannot do this alone. We need:

From Government: Commitment to adequate funding for AI infrastructure, education, and governance. Policies that encourage innovation while protecting citizens. Coordination across ministries to integrate AI into public services systematically.

From Private Sector: Investment in AI startups. Partnerships with universities to build talent pipelines. Commitment to building AI systems that serve Ugandans, not just profit maximizers. Willingness to train and employ AI skilled workers locally.

From Academia: Urgency in building AI research capacity. Integration of AI into curricula at all levels. Partnerships with industry and government to make education relevant to actual opportunities.

From Society: Demand that AI serves equity and inclusion, not just efficiency. Participation in public consultations about AI governance. Commitment to lifelong learning as the AI economy evolves.

The choice is ours

The formation of Uganda's National AI Task Force is a signal. A signal that we see the future. A signal that we refuse to be passive consumers of foreign technology. A signal that we will shape our own destiny.

But a signal is not enough. We must back it with action, funding, urgency, and unity of purpose.

The world is not waiting for Uganda. China is not waiting. Singapore is not waiting. Rwanda is not waiting. The AI revolution is happening with or without us. The only question is whether Uganda will be a shaper of this transformation or a victim of it.
I am convinced we will choose to lead. Not through arrogance, but through humility.

By listening to our people, learning from global leaders, and delivering governance frameworks that protect Ugandans while unleashing their potential.

The future is not something that happens to us. It is something we build. And that future begins now.

The writer is Vice Chancellor, Victoria University, and Member, National AI Task Force