Vision Africa AI urges Uganda to build homegrown artificial intelligence solutions

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Vision Africa AI is urging Uganda to prioritize locally built artificial intelligence tools as the country looks to participate more actively in the emerging AI economy. The organization says domestic innovation would help ensure that AI products are designed around Uganda’s and Africa’s specific social and economic needs, rather than leaving the country dependent mainly on technologies developed elsewhere.

According to the report, Vision Africa AI Chief Executive Officer Julius Torach made the call while speaking at the State of the Digital Economy, SODE 2026. He said Uganda has a chance to influence its own AI path by backing local innovators and helping companies understand practical ways to begin using artificial intelligence. Vision Africa AI describes its work as focused on ethical, impact-oriented and locally relevant AI adoption for organizations, entrepreneurs and innovators.

The remarks fit into a wider theme highlighted at SODE 2026: that Uganda’s digital transformation should not be limited to connectivity, but should also include skills development, innovation ecosystems, trusted platforms, stronger infrastructure and supportive policy. Nile Post reports that speakers at the conference have emphasized investment in people and practical capabilities as a potential competitive advantage for Africa in AI.

The issue matters because AI adoption is increasingly linked to business productivity, public service innovation and economic competitiveness. The report frames Vision Africa AI’s position as a push for Uganda to move from being primarily a consumer of imported digital tools to becoming a producer of technologies that can address local priorities and compete in the wider digital economy.