Social Media Commentators Calls for More Tech Experts Like Dr. Aminah Zawedde to Drive Uganda’s Digital Agenda

What the report says

A social media post by Ugandan commentator Simon Kaggwa Njala has drawn attention to the role of technical expertise in Uganda’s digital sector. According to Watchdog Uganda, Njala praised former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, and suggested the government should bring in more professionals with similar qualifications to support the country’s digital transformation agenda.

In the post on X dated 12 November 2026, Njala argued that Uganda would need several leaders like Zawedde to advance its digital ambitions. He also referred to positive feedback from people linked to her earlier work at Makerere University’s School of Computing and Informatics Technology, where she taught and was involved in ICT projects. His remarks also criticized the tendency for capable professionals to become entangled in politics.

Watchdog Uganda said Zawedde is a software engineer with a doctorate from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. She served as permanent secretary from July 2021 until her recent redeployment to the Office of the Prime Minister, and was the first woman to hold that post. During her tenure, the ministry oversaw work tied to the Digital Transformation Roadmap, the expansion of the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, and regional innovation centres at several universities.

The article said her period in office was also associated with faster online business registration, wider digital-skills training, and ICT job fairs. The commentary reflects continuing public interest in who leads Uganda’s technology agenda as the government pursues broader digital reforms.