HOW KAMPALA’S DGA 2026 SUMMIT IS POWERS UGANDA'S TECH BOOM

KAMPALA — Uganda has officially secured its position at the centre of the continent's technology evolution. The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, alongside the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) and African Brains Global, have announced that Uganda will host the highly anticipated 2026 Digital Government Africa (DGA) Conference. The massive continental summit is scheduled to take place next week from October 6 to October 8, 2026, at the prestigious Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala. Running under the theme “Accelerating Africa’s Digital Transformation of Government,” the three-day high-level summit is poised to foster deep collaboration between top policymakers and tech innovators, while firmly cementing Uganda’s reputation as Africa's premier destination for ICT investment. A Powerful Continental Alliance The official press briefing featured Mr. John Glassey, Chief Executive Officer of UK-based African Brains, whose presence underscored the rapidly strengthening partnership between Uganda and global tech conveners. NITA-U Executive Director, Dr. Hatwib Mugasa, highly commended African Brains Global for its consistency in uniting African governments, private sector titans, investors, and development partners. Reflecting on his participation in the 2025 edition hosted in Zambia, Dr. Baryomunsi noted that Uganda’s selection as the 2026 host is a massive vote of confidence from the international community. “Africa’s digital transformation must be collaborative. Countries are facing similar challenges, and there is a need to share lessons, avoid duplication, and develop solutions that are appropriate for our needs,” Dr. Mugasa stated. Uganda is not just hosting the conversation; it is leading by example. Driven by the national Digital Transformation Roadmap, the country's tech ecosystem has achieved staggering milestones that will be showcased to hundreds of incoming international delegates:The National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) has expanded to over 5,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable, connecting more than 1,500 government sites and powering seamless platforms like e-procurement and online tax services. Uganda now boasts over 44.3 million active mobile connections—surpassing the national population—alongside expanding 4G coverage and ongoing urban 5G trials. The ICT sector now aggressively contributes over 9% to Uganda's GDP, heavily supported by a mobile money ecosystem where transactions run into tens of trillions of shillings annually. Dr. Hatwib Mugasa, revealed that Uganda’s GovTech Maturity Index stands at an impressive 0.79, placing the country squarely in the global “Very High Maturity” tier. The DGA 2026 summit will bring together ICT ministers, central bank regulators, cybersecurity experts, and data providers from across the globe. Over the three days in Munyonyo, the focus will zero in on critical future-shaping pillars: digital identity systems, government cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity resilience, Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance, and electronic payments. With hundreds of investors landing in Kampala, the summit is set to unlock unprecedented funding opportunities for local innovators and elevate Uganda's visibility on the global tech stage.