Uganda’s push to build a competitive digital economy will require far more than expanding internet access, with experts calling for greater investment in the infrastructure that powers artificial intelligence, research and innovation.
The message emerged during the third State of the Digital Economy (SODE 2026) conference, where the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) argued that reliable digital infrastructure has become as important as internet connectivity in driving economic growth.
Patience Nagaba, speaking on behalf of RENU, said Uganda has made notable progress in connecting universities, research institutions and communities over the past two decades. However, she said the country’s next challenge is ensuring that those connections are supported by systems capable of handling advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and large-scale data processing.
She said many people still equate digital infrastructure with internet access, yet the sector depends on a much broader ecosystem that allows digital platforms, services and data to operate efficiently. According to Nagaba, those unseen systems form the backbone of innovation and determine whether countries can compete in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
RENU, which this year marks its 20th anniversary, has connected more than 1,000 sites across Uganda, providing high-speed connectivity and digital services to universities and research institutions. The organization says those links have strengthened collaboration among researchers while supporting education and innovation.
Nagaba said RENU is now shifting its focus toward supporting Uganda’s artificial intelligence ambitions through strategic partnerships. One of its flagship projects is a national AI cloud being developed with Makerere University and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The platform is expected to give researchers, software developers and innovators access to powerful computing resources within Uganda, making it easier to develop and test AI applications without relying heavily on foreign infrastructure.
She also highlighted RENU’s growing network capacity, saying its backbone can deliver speeds of up to 200 Gbps, positioning the organization to support the country’s increasing demand for high-performance digital services.
The discussion reflected a broader consensus emerging at SODE 2026, where policymakers, technology leaders and development partners have emphasized that affordable internet alone will not deliver meaningful digital transformation.
Participants argued that Uganda must simultaneously invest in secure digital systems, modern computing infrastructure, technical skills and supportive policies if it is to translate digital access into innovation, jobs and long-term economic growth.
As conversations at the conference continued, one theme remained consistent. Building a digital future will depend not only on connecting more Ugandans to the internet but also on creating the resilient infrastructure that enables researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses to innovate at home while competing on the global stage.
