The Minister for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has urged Uganda’s public and private universities to take a more active role in transforming government service delivery through technology-driven research and innovation.
Speaking during the 18th graduation ceremony of ISBAT University at Hotel Africana, Dr. Baryomunsi noted that while the country’s 68 universities have made progress in teaching computer science and digitizing libraries, their innovations must increasingly influence public policy and drive practical solutions in society.
“You cannot say technology is for the Western world. It will find you where you are even if you hide your head in the sand,” Baryomunsi said.
“I have been to countries like South Korea where doctors use artificial intelligence to make quick, accurate diagnoses of ailments like cancer. How do we bring these technologies into the health sector in Uganda for our health workers to perform better?”
The ceremony, held under the theme “Transforming Higher Education by Integrating Emerging Technologies,” saw 962 graduands receive academic awards. Among them was Shri Upender Singh Rawat, the Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, who earned a Master’s degree in Public Health. He said he intends to use his training to strengthen Uganda–India cooperation in the health sector.
George William Nyombi Thembo, the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and data analytics are reshaping industries worldwide—including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and the creative economy.
“Traditional lectures, fixed curricula, and standardized assessments no longer align with the dynamic, personalized, digital world students inhabit,” Nyombi said.
“Education must evolve from simple knowledge transmission to knowledge creation and application.”
ISBAT University’s Board Chairman, Varghese Mundamattam, underscored the value of partnerships in improving practical learning outcomes.
“Strong collaborations with industry, government, and civil society give students real problems to solve, internships to gain practical skills, and pathways to research that translate into public benefit,” he said.
Baryomunsi’s message comes at a critical moment for Uganda’s rapidly expanding ICT sector, which contributes 9% of GDP, employs 1.3 million people, and is growing at an estimated 15% annually.
Yet despite this growth, gaps persist.
More than 700,000 graduates enter the job market each year, but unemployment remains high at 12.3%, with 42.6% of youth aged 15–24 unemployed or not engaged in education or training, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
The minister urged universities to leverage emerging technologies to:
Improve government service delivery
Boost digital literacy
Strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship
Build cybersecurity and advanced ICT skills
Dr. Baryomunsi emphasized that universities have a central role to play in ensuring Uganda fully participates in and benefits from the global digital economy.
