The Minister for ICT and National Guidance.Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has announced that Uganda will host Digital Government Africa 2026 Conference in Kampala from 6th – 8th October 2026.
Addressing the media in Kampala the minister said Uganda is not hosting this event merely as a venue but as an active partner in Africa’s digital future.
“We want DGA 2026 to be a platform where policy meets implementation; where government priorities meet industry capability; where African countries learn from one another; and where practical partnerships are formed to deliver better public services,”Baryomunsi stated.
According to the minister,the theme of this year’s event, “Accelerating Africa’s Digital Transformation of Government,” speaks directly to the priorities of Uganda, the East African region, and the wider African continent. It reflects a shared understanding that digital transformation is no longer a future ambition. It is now central to how governments deliver services, manage national systems, strengthen accountability, support economic growth, and improve the daily lives of citizens.
“I am pleased to announce that Uganda will host the 2026 edition of Digital Government Africa, from 6 to 8 October 2026, under the patronage of the Government of Uganda, led by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
Digital Government Africa, also known as DGA, is the continent’s most important platform bringing together government leaders, public institutions, technology providers, development partners, investors, and experts who are working to accelerate the digital transformation of government and public services across Africa,”Baryomunsi stated
He said Across Africa, governments are investing in digital identity, e-government platforms, national data systems, government cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital payments, innovation, and digital skills. These are not isolated technology projects. They are the foundations of modern public administration. They determine how efficiently a citizen can access a birth certificate, renew a licence, register a business, receive social services, pay taxes, access health care, participate in the economy, or interact with government institutions.
“For Uganda,hosting Digital Government Africa is both timely and strategic.As a country, we have made significant progress in building the foundations of a digitally enabled public sector. We continue to expand connectivity, strengthen ICT infrastructure, promote digital inclusion, support innovation, and improve the use of technology across government. Through the leadership of His Excellency the President and the Government of Uganda, ICT has been recognised as a key driver of national development, economic transformation, service delivery, job creation, and competitiveness,”the minister stressed.
He further noted that DGA 2026 will bring to Uganda senior government officials, ICT authorities, regulators, digital identity agencies, e-government leaders, cybersecurity experts, cloud and data centre providers, technology companies, innovators, and development partners from across Africa and beyond. Previous editions of DGA have attracted hundreds of delegates and participation from many African countries, creating a practical forum for policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, investment promotion, and partnership building.
“The event will focus on a number of critical areas. These include e-government platforms and services; digital identity; ICT and digital public infrastructure; government cloud and data centres; ICT innovation and digital skills; cybersecurity and data protection; electronic payments and digital finance; and the responsible use of artificial intelligence for Africa’s development,”Baryomunsi said.
DGA2026 will position Uganda as a regional leader and convening point for digital government transformation. It will allow us to showcase Uganda’s own progress, priorities, and ambitions in ICT, while learning from the experience of other African countries that are also implementing digital public services.
The event will create a direct opportunity for Ugandan public institutions to engage with leading technology providers and development partners. This is important because successful digital transformation requires not only policy but also implementation. Governments need trusted partners who understand public-sector requirements, data protection, national sovereignty, interoperability, affordability, and long-term sustainability.
DGA2026 will support investment and business opportunities in Uganda. By bringing international and regional technology companies, infrastructure providers, cloud companies, cybersecurity firms, systems integrators, digital finance providers, and innovation partners to Kampala, the event will strengthen Uganda’s visibility as a destination for ICT investment and regional operations.
The event will contribute to knowledge transfer and capacity building. Our officials, agencies, innovators, and young professionals will have the opportunity to engage directly with experts and peers on practical issues: how to design citizen-centred services, how to protect national data, how to manage cloud migration, how to build digital identity systems, how to improve interoperability, how to strengthen cybersecurity readiness, and how to ensure that digital services reach all citizens.
DGA 2026 will therefore give strong attention to cybersecurity, data governance, digital identity, and the responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Dr. Hatwib Mugasa Executive Director, National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U) said hosting the Digital Government Africa Summit 2026 is a powerful vote of confidence in Uganda’s digital journey.
“It signals that our Digital Uganda Vision has fast become a reality gaining recognition across the continent.Uganda continues to make steady progress on global ICT indices. Our GovTech Maturity Index stands at 0.79, placing us in the Very High Maturity category, well above the global average,”he stated.
According to him, uganda in 2024, the country recorded a score of 0.45, exceeding both the African average of 0.42 and the average for low-income countries and improved our Network Readiness Index to 34.29, our best performance yet.
These achievements demonstrate that Uganda is emerging as a credible digital player in Africa, ready to host and lead high-level continental conversations.
NITA-U’s Contribution to Uganda’s Digital Foundation
“At NITA-U, we have focused on building robust digital public infrastructure that supports this ambition. Over the past years, we have:
Ø Expanded the National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) to 4,387 kilometres, connecting more districts, MDAs, and service delivery points than ever before.
Ø Deployed UGHub, our national data integration platform, now supporting secure real-time data sharing across government,”Atwibu Stressed.
He however said they will soon roll out UGPass, Uganda’s trusted digital identity and electronic signature solution, which has earned international recognition and strengthen the National CERT and the Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO), improving our cybersecurity posture and data governance.
Commenting about the conference,Atwibu DGA 2026 is the perfect platform to demonstrate how we are using digital infrastructure to deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
“We will showcase how solutions like UGPass and UGHub are making government services faster, more secure, and more accessible from the bustling streets of Kampala to remote communities,”he said.
“During DGA 2026, we will actively lead conversations on cybersecurity collaboration, data governance , and the responsible use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.• Beyond just adopting technology, we are building a secure, ethical, and citizen centred digital future.Call to Local Innovators and Operational Excellence,”he added.
Meanwhile in the lead-up to October 2026, NITA-U will provide strong technical leadership to ensure seamless connectivity, security, and digital integration for all delegates.
“We are ready to show Africa what a modern, efficient, and inclusive Digital Uganda looks and feels like.Hosting DGA 2026 is a strategic opportunity to accelerate Uganda’s digital transformation while contributing meaningfully to Africa’s shared digital journey,”he concluded.
