Technology Leaders Propose Quarterly Govt-Business Talks to Support Shs1,900tn Economy Target

What the report says

The CIO-CXO Forum is proposing regular, quarterly meetings between government, businesses and technology innovators as Uganda pushes toward its 2040 economic target of about $500 billion, or Shs1,900 trillion. According to Nile Post, the idea was raised by George Ouma, a forum advisory council member and senior manager for IT projects at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), during a stakeholder engagement on aligning the ICT sector with the Fourth National Development Plan and the country’s tenfold growth strategy.

Ouma said technology should be treated as a driver of productivity, jobs and public service delivery rather than just a support function. He argued that digital tools could help ease several long-running challenges in Uganda’s economy, including high business costs, low productivity, fragmented services and limited market access. The article said he pointed to possible applications in agriculture, finance, healthcare, education and public administration, including platforms that could help farmers reach markets and young people find work.

The forum, which brings together technology and digital leaders from government and the private sector, wants to create a national pipeline that links innovators with real problems faced by institutions so solutions can be tested and scaled against actual demand. Ouma also said NSSF had agreed in principle to explore digital innovation sandboxes with the forum and other partners, including the International Telecommunication Union, though formal arrangements are still being worked out.

Nile Post reported that the forum wants early actions within 90 to 180 days, including identifying priority opportunities and agreeing on an initial action plan. The proposal reflects a broader push in Uganda to use digital transformation as part of long-term economic growth planning.