Uganda Must Ensure Digital Infrastructure Improves Lives, UCC's Musinguzi Tells SODE 2026

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Uganda Communications Commission Director of Finance Haruna Musinguzi has urged Uganda to assess its digital infrastructure by its effect on citizens’ welfare, not only by internet access or mobile subscription numbers. He made the remarks in Kampala at the third State of the Digital Economy conference, held at Next Media Park under the theme “Beyond Connectivity: Turning Access into Opportunity.”

According to the report, Musinguzi said the country’s digital systems should support better public services, employment, new industries, economic growth and secure, trusted online activity. He argued that digital transformation should be treated as a national development issue spanning the economy, governance and social progress, rather than as a narrow ICT matter. Nile Post cited figures he presented showing 47.5 million active mobile subscriptions, 20 million internet subscriptions, 36.3 million active mobile money accounts and more than 20 million smart devices in Uganda.

The conference discussion built on comments by Next Media Group CEO Kin Kariisa, who called for Uganda to move from expanding connectivity to earning value from it through jobs, digital services and improved government delivery. Next Media Chief Marketing Officer Joy Mwangi also emphasized digital skills, saying access matters only when people can use technology productively.

Nile Post says the SODE 2026 event brought together government leaders, regulators, technology specialists, entrepreneurs, academics, innovators and content creators. Its agenda includes human capital, policy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, alongside fintech displays, GovTech demonstrations, creator economy sessions and a hackathon. The wider significance is Uganda’s shift from measuring digital progress by access alone toward asking whether technology is improving livelihoods and competitiveness.