RENU says Uganda must build invisible digital infrastructure to power AI economy

What the report says

Nile Post reported that the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) has urged the country to look beyond basic internet access as it seeks to convert digital connectivity into wider economic gains. Speaking at the third State of the Digital Economy conference, SODE 2026, RENU representative Patience Nagaba said Uganda’s next stage of digital transformation will require stronger systems for artificial intelligence, research, innovation and high-speed collaboration.

According to the report, Nagaba said RENU, a not-for-profit network serving universities, research bodies and the higher education community, has connected more than 1,000 sites since its establishment and recently marked 20 years. She argued that digital infrastructure should be understood as more than internet service, pointing to cloud computing, high-capacity fibre, data systems and computing platforms as the less visible foundations that allow people, services and platforms to operate at scale.

Nile Post said Nagaba also highlighted RENU’s role in efforts to strengthen Uganda’s AI ecosystem, including a partnership with Makerere University and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to create a national AI cloud. The report said the initiative is intended to give researchers, developers and innovators local access to computing capacity for building and testing AI tools, which could reduce reliance on overseas infrastructure. Nagaba also cited RENU backbone capacity of up to 200 Gbps.

The remarks fit a wider theme at SODE 2026: that affordable connectivity alone will not deliver a competitive digital economy. Speakers cited the need for coordinated investment in infrastructure, practical skills, cybersecurity, policy reforms and institutional partnerships to help Uganda turn access into innovation and economic opportunity.