Uganda is taking a deliberate, inclusive approach to AI governance that prioritizes ethical safeguards and community consent before the technology becomes entrenched in the country's institutions. On May 26, 2026, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, working with UNESCO's Regional Office for Eastern Africa, brought together government officials, academics, civil society organizations, private sector leaders, and development partners in Kampala to validate findings from Uganda's AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and chart a roadmap for responsible AI adoption.

This milestone consultation marks a significant shift in how developing nations approach AI governance. Rather than waiting for global frameworks or importing regulatory models wholesale, Uganda is conducting a comprehensive national assessment to understand its unique strengths, vulnerabilities, and readiness gaps before embedding AI into critical sectors like healthcare, education, and government services.

What Are Uganda's Key AI Governance Gaps?

The RAM Inception Report, presented by Dr. Joyce Nakatumba Nabende, the lead national expert for the assessment, revealed a mixed picture. Uganda has genuine strengths in AI research and development, particularly in health, agriculture, language technology, and environmental monitoring. However, significant governance and infrastructure barriers threaten equitable AI adoption.

• Legal Framework Deficit: Uganda lacks a comprehensive AI-specific legal framework. Existing instruments such as the Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019) do not address algorithmic transparency, automated decision-making, or AI-specific data governance requirements.
• Infrastructure Affordability Crisis: Mobile data costs are nearly four times the United Nations benchmark, creating a severe barrier to equitable access to AI technologies and limiting the ability of ordinary Ugandans to benefit from AI-driven services.
• Environmental and Community Safeguards: There are no binding environmental impact assessment requirements for AI infrastructure projects such as data centers, and no formal mechanisms requiring free, fair, and informed community consent when such infrastructure affects local land and natural resources.

Mr. Baker Birikujja, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, stressed that Uganda cannot build AI infrastructure without the consent of affected communities. He stated that "we cannot build AI infrastructure without the consent of the communities it will affect. Free, fair, and informed consent must be a cornerstone of our governance framework".

How Is Uganda Embedding Gender and Labor Protections Into Its AI Strategy?

Stakeholders engaged in focused discussions across six priority areas, with particular emphasis on ensuring that AI adoption does not amplify existing inequalities. The consultation identified several critical action areas that Uganda must address in its forthcoming National AI and Emerging Technologies Strategy.

• Gender and Digital Inclusion: Participants emphasized the widening digital divide and the urgent need to ensure women's meaningful participation in AI development, deployment, and governance. Without deliberate policies, AI risks amplifying existing gender inequalities in the labor market and access to technology.
• Workforce Preparation and Labor Market Readiness: Discussions highlighted the need for skilling programs and legal reforms to prepare Uganda's workforce for AI-driven automation, mitigating risks of job displacement and ensuring workers can adapt to changing labor market demands.
• Health and Social Well-being Safeguards: Stakeholders urged the embedding of ethical standards in AI-powered diagnostics and clinical care, recognizing that AI systems in healthcare carry high stakes for patient safety and equity.

Mr. Birikujja emphasized this point directly: "Without deliberate policies, AI risks amplifying existing inequalities. We must embed gender safeguards into our national AI strategy". This language signals that Uganda views AI governance not as a technical compliance exercise, but as a human rights imperative.

Birikujja

Why Is UNESCO's Ethics Framework Central to Uganda's Approach?

Uganda's consultation process is anchored in UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2021), the first global framework designed to ensure AI technologies are adopted responsibly, inclusively, and in alignment with human rights. Dr. Dominic V. Mundrugo-Ogo Lali, Secretary General of Uganda's National Commission for UNESCO, reminded participants that this framework goes beyond technology. He noted: "UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI is about more than technology, it is about safeguarding human dignity and ensuring that innovation serves the public good".

This framing reflects a broader recognition that AI governance cannot be separated from questions of human dignity, community agency, and equitable development. Uganda's approach treats governance not as an external constraint on innovation, but as a prerequisite for sustainable, inclusive AI adoption.

What Comes Next for Uganda's AI Governance?

Stakeholders emphasized the need for continued dialogue and collaboration, with a follow-up session planned to validate the RAM findings and finalize Uganda's AI Readiness Report. This report will directly inform the development of Uganda's National AI and Emerging Technologies Strategy, ensuring that governance frameworks reflect both national priorities and global ethical standards.

The consultation also highlighted a critical funding challenge. Participants expressed concern about the absence of existing binding mechanisms to monitor AI-related harms, particularly in gender and health sectors, and emphasized the importance of national and regional budget engagements to secure financing for AI governance infrastructure. Without dedicated resources, even well-designed policies risk remaining on paper.

Uganda's deliberate, consultative approach stands in contrast to the rapid, often reactive AI governance efforts in many developed nations. By conducting a comprehensive readiness assessment before embedding AI into critical institutions, Uganda is positioning itself to adopt AI in ways that serve public good rather than simply importing governance models designed elsewhere. The coming months will reveal whether this inclusive process can translate into binding policies and sustained implementation.