Uganda: Driving inclusive socio-economic progress through mobile-enabled digital transformation

With more people using mobile services today in Uganda than ever before, the technology is having a direct impact on social and economic activities and, by extension, supporting progress with the national and global development goals.

In this report, we highlight five broad areas where the use of mobile technology is having a notable impact in Uganda:

• Productivity and efficiency – mobile connectivity lowers the cost of accessing and disseminating vital information, allowing private businesses and public institutions to be more productive.

• Service delivery – mobile platforms enable innovative solutions that leapfrog infrastructure and funding challenges across key sectors of the economy, notably health, education and utilities.

• Good governance and social justice – mobile-enabled digitisation of government tax receipts and social security disbursements has increased transparency and accountability in those processes.

• Climate change and the environment – mobile technology helps with disaster preparedness and response by raising public awareness and reaching out to vulnerable populations on disaster risks.

• Digital entrepreneurship and emerging technologies – around 4 in 5 tech start-ups use one or more mobile platforms in their solution, while mobile connectivity is enabling the development of blockchain and other emerging technologies in Uganda.