The ongoing Uganda-Japan (UJ) Connect project, a collaboration between the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is expected to generate 6,000 jobs in Uganda’s Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) sector.
Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the ICT Ministry, announced that the UJ Connect initiative is a key component of the government’s digital transformation roadmap. Launched in February, the project aims to match Ugandan businesses and youth with Japanese companies, fostering employment opportunities and boosting the capacity of local innovators.
Amos Mpungu, Principal ICT Officer at the Ministry, highlighted significant progress over the past six months, noting that the project is built on four pillars: policy, capacity building, business matching, and startup acceleration. Already, six Ugandan firms have signed contracts with Japanese companies, which is expected to drive further job creation as demand for a skilled workforce grows.
Since 2022, the ICT Ministry has reported that 539,900 Ugandans have gained employment, directly and indirectly, through six key innovations developed by local talent. These innovations include the Business Registration System, Integrated Health Information Management System, Electronic Document Record Management System, Electronic Government Procurement System, and the Education Management Information System. These systems have improved transparency, accountability, and service delivery, generating approximately Shs93.6 billion over the last three years.
To further enhance the ICT sector, the National ICT Innovation Hub in Kampala was revamped in January 2022, hosting 49 innovators and entrepreneurs and creating 321 jobs. The hub offers infrastructure support, mentorship, and business advisory services. It has conducted 122 training sessions, benefiting 9,666 participants, and supported over 500 beneficiaries through mentorship and internship programs.
The government has also established three regional ICT Innovation Hubs at Kabale, Soroti, and Muni universities, funded by the National ICT Initiative Support Programme, to support local innovators with training and digital skilling.
In 2022 and 2023, two National ICT job fairs were held, opening up 10,163 opportunities for young people, including jobs, internships, apprenticeships, and scholarships.
The Digital Transformation Roadmap, launched by President Museveni in August last year, outlines five pillars: infrastructure, digital services, cybersecurity, digital skilling, and innovation and entrepreneurship. The roadmap, running from 2023 to 2028, aims to create 300,000 jobs by extending internet connections to 600 health centers and all 146 district headquarters, empowering individuals, businesses, and communities to fully participate in the digital economy.