Startup Uganda pushes for policies that enable innovation and entrepreneurship

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Startup Uganda has urged policymakers to create conditions that help innovators and entrepreneurs build and expand businesses, arguing that Uganda’s digital economy needs more than connectivity to grow. The call was made during discussions at the State of the Digital Economy (SODE 2026), where attention has shifted toward turning digital access into wider economic opportunity.

Rachel Athieno, a representative of Startup Uganda, said at the conference that regulation should evolve alongside innovation so that entrepreneurs have room to test ideas, grow ventures and contribute to the economy. According to the report, she said the organisation is engaging the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on policy issues, with the aim of ensuring that rules support enterprise rather than hold it back.

Startup Uganda is described by Nile Post as the country’s largest innovation community, bringing together founders, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and ecosystem partners. Athieno said the group is working with government institutions to make policies more responsive to emerging businesses and to strengthen links between education and industry.

The report places her comments within broader SODE 2026 discussions on digital transformation, including calls for practical technology skills, reliable digital systems, stronger infrastructure and coordinated action across sectors. Athieno also pointed to Uganda Innovation Week 2026, scheduled for November 9 to 13, as a platform to connect innovators, investors, policymakers and technology leaders. The wider issue, as presented in the article, is whether Uganda can align policy, skills, capital and innovation to turn digital ideas into businesses, employment and long-term economic growth.