Dr. Aminah Zawedde Leaves ICT Ministry With a Strong Digital Legacy After Five Years as First Female Permanent Secretary

What the report says

Dr. Aminah Zawedde has left her role as Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and National Guidance after about five years in office, following the November 8, 2026 cabinet reshuffle that nominated Prof. Stephen Akandwanaho as her successor, according to Watchdog Uganda. President Yoweri Museveni appointed her on July 15, 2021, and the outlet says her exit has prompted reflection on a tenure widely seen as important for Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.

Watchdog Uganda describes Zawedde as the ministry’s first female permanent secretary and notes that she brought a background in computer science, software engineering, and university teaching, as well as experience on the board of NITA-U. During her time in office, the ministry advanced a Digital Transformation Roadmap covering infrastructure, e-government, cybersecurity, digital literacy, and support for local innovation. The report says these efforts aligned with broader national development priorities.

The article highlights digital skilling as a major part of her record, including training for more than 40,000 Ugandans, refugee certification programs, public-sector capacity building, and the expansion of regional innovation hubs beyond Kampala. It also says Uganda issued ICT intellectual property guidelines in 2025 and deepened partnerships with private-sector players.

Watchdog Uganda also points to recognition Zawedde received on the continent, alongside ongoing challenges such as funding gaps, the rural-urban digital divide, cybersecurity risks, and the need to adapt to artificial intelligence. More broadly, her departure matters because it closes a period in which Uganda sought to strengthen digital services, skills, and institutions while broadening participation in senior technology leadership.