Makerere, why spend $30m to import tracking software?

What the report says

The Observer published a commentary criticizing reported plans for Uganda to spend about $30 million on imported tracking software. The author argues that Makerere University and Uganda’s wider technology sector already have enough expertise to build such a system locally, and says the country should rely more on domestic institutions and engineers rather than overseas vendors.

The piece says the proposed software would be used for tracking, though it does not provide procurement details or identify the buyer beyond referring broadly to Uganda. The writer frames the issue as a missed opportunity for Ugandan innovation, mentioning Makerere’s College of Computing and Information Science, the National Enterprise Corporation, the Uganda Police, and the soldiers’ savings group Wazalendo as possible local partners.

The commentary also draws comparisons with other African countries and firms, including Rwanda, South Africa, Estonia and Latvia, to argue that local development of tracking technology is possible. It presents the matter as a question of industrial policy and technology self-reliance, rather than a purely technical decision.

Because the article is an opinion piece, its claims reflect the author’s view and advocacy. The broader context is Uganda’s continuing debate over public spending, local content, and whether government projects should prioritize homegrown technology when feasible.