East Africa’s AI Race Opens Opportunity for Uganda 

As Kenya hosts one of Africa’s largest artificial intelligence summits in Nairobi, the signal from the region is becoming harder to ignore: East Africa is stepping into the global AI race, and Uganda is being forced to decide how fast it is willing to move.

The inaugural AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya summit has drawn investors, policymakers, tech leaders, and innovators from across the continent and beyond. While Kenya’s “Silicon Savannah” continues to dominate the narrative, the deeper conversations unfolding in Nairobi point to a regional shift that could redefine economic competition in East Africa.

Artificial intelligence is no longer being treated as a distant or purely technological concept. Across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, finance, education, and manufacturing, it is quickly emerging as a driver of productivity, efficiency, and growth. For Uganda, this moment presents both promise and pressure.

Speaking at the summit, Philip Thigo argued that AI must be elevated beyond the confines of ICT policy and treated as a central pillar of economic strategy.

“AI is literally AI everything today,” he said, urging African governments to approach it with the same seriousness once reserved for natural resources like oil and gold.

That framing resonated with many participants, who pointed to East Africa’s demographic advantage, expanding connectivity, and growing startup ecosystems as foundations for global competitiveness.

Uganda has not been entirely absent from this trajectory. The country’s fintech sector, mobile money innovations, and emerging agri-tech and health-tech solutions have demonstrated local ingenuity. But those gains remain fragile in the face of deeper structural constraints.

Persistent challenges — including high data costs, patchy internet coverage, unreliable electricity, limited research funding, and gaps in advanced digital skills  continue to slow momentum.

At the Nairobi summit, one message came through repeatedly: without serious investment in infrastructure, AI ambitions will stall.

Snehar Shah emphasized the need for robust digital backbones, including cloud systems, data centres, and stable power supply. Kenya, he noted, is already moving to align these elements as part of its ambition to position itself as a regional AI hub.

For Uganda, the questions are similar, but the pace appears slower.

Science and Technology Minister Monica Musenero brought the debate closer to home, raising concerns about whether AI is reaching the people who need it most.

“But as a legislator, the question is where is the badly needed money in AI?” she asked. “Internet access has improved, but affordability and rural access remain major barriers. If people cannot use it to improve their livelihoods, then its relevance becomes questionable.”

Her remarks underscored a growing concern that the benefits of AI could remain concentrated in urban centres unless deliberate efforts are made to expand access.

Another theme gaining traction is digital sovereignty  the ability of countries to control their data and technological systems rather than relying entirely on foreign platforms.

Lourinho Chamane warned that without investment in local innovation, African countries risk becoming passive consumers in a system they do not control. He called for the development of home-grown AI solutions tailored to African contexts, including support for local languages.

This is particularly relevant for Uganda, where language barriers continue to limit digital inclusion. Many platforms still prioritise English, leaving large segments of the population on the margins of the digital economy.

Delegates argued that AI systems built around local languages could significantly expand access to services such as education, healthcare, and financial tools.

At the same time, the commercial case for AI is becoming harder to ignore. The African AI market is projected to grow rapidly, opening space for startups, telecom firms, banks, and governments willing to invest early.

Winnie Mangeni noted that the region is gradually shifting from importing solutions to building its own technologies.

“Our work has shown just how much untapped potential exists here,” she said.

For Uganda, the most immediate opportunities may lie in familiar sectors. In agriculture, AI tools could help farmers predict weather changes, manage pests, and improve yields. In healthcare, they could support diagnostics, disease tracking, and hospital efficiency.

Yet beneath these opportunities lies a more strategic reality.

Artificial intelligence is fast becoming a defining factor in global economic power. Countries that invest early are likely to shape the rules, while late adopters risk permanent dependence.

Trixie LohMirmand described AI as a force capable of restructuring economies, warning that speed will be critical.

For Uganda and its regional peers, the race is no longer theoretical.

The foundations   infrastructure, skills, policy, and investment  will determine whether the country emerges as a contributor to the AI economy or remains a consumer of solutions built elsewhere.

As the Nairobi summit continues, it is becoming clear that this is not just Kenya’s moment.

It is East Africa’s turning point and Uganda still has a seat at the table, but the window is slowly narrowing.

The post East Africa’s AI Race Opens Opportunity for Uganda  appeared first on Daily Star.