This year, I had the opportunity to participate in the 12th edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25), held in Lusaka, Zambia, and convened by Paradigm Initiative. Under the powerful theme, “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology,” DRIF25 brought together an inspiring community of stakeholders across government, civil society, academia, the private sector, and grassroots movements. The forum served as a vibrant and urgent space for shaping conversations, debating digital policy directions, and forging partnerships aimed at advancing digital rights and inclusion particularly within the Global South.
Over the years, DRIF has become the go-to platform for tackling some of the most pressing issues in the digital governance space: Internet shutdowns, surveillance, disinformation, access to information, artificial intelligence, data protection, and digital public infrastructure. DRIF25 built on this legacy by foregrounding the concept of Ubuntu, the African philosophy that emphasizes our shared humanity, community-centered values, and mutual care as a guiding principle for how technology should be designed, deployed, and governed.
Promoting Digital Ubuntu is especially significant in our context, where rapid technological changes are reshaping societies, yet many people remain excluded or vulnerable. At the core of the discussions this year was a powerful reminder: that digital transformation must prioritize people over profit, equity over extraction, and collaboration over control.
In this article, I reflect on the pivotal conversations that took place at DRIF 2025 specifically on human centric approach to digital innovation which underscored the need for a human-centered, rights-based, sustainable, collaborative, multistakeholderism and locally grounded approach to digital transformation.
Building a Human-Centric Digital Future
In contrast to the heavier themes of repression and surveillance, one of the most inspiring sessions focused on shaping a human-centric approach to digital cooperation. It emphasized digital transformation that reflects African values such as Ubuntu focusing on community, equity, and shared progress.
I had the privilege of attending a highly engaging workshop during DRIF25 where a major highlight was the launch of the Digital Rights Manual for Beginners, a multilingual and accessible guide offering clear direction on navigating the evolving digital landscape, particularly in relation to fundamental rights and freedoms. This resource is especially valuable for civil society actors and grassroots communities who are often at the frontlines of digital rights advocacy but lack the tools and information to engage effectively.
As digital transformation continues to influence socio-economic development, Africa stands at a crucial crossroads. Strong Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), last-mile connectivity, and the meaningful integration of Indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI). When combined, these elements have the power to foster sustainable development, empower communities, and enhance Africa’s role in the global digital economy.
Uganda is taking shape in embracing a digitized economy through development of digital payments using mobile money payments for e-commerce. The use of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes has enhanced the use of mobile money for anyone even in rural areas with limited internet connection and it shows the level of financial inclusion. There is also Data Exchange and Interoperability where government ministries and agencies are linked to a unified network. Citizens can access services like passport applications, birth registrations and tax filing and payments online. On the other hand, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda have also developed very competitive mobile money ecosystems that facilitate payments, savings and microfinancing. DPI has the potential to support Africa’s digital transformation, including continental-level ambitions such as the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030) and it’s single market agenda the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).However, for this to happen, there are crucial baselines for DPI that must be considered on the continent, including situating DPI within existing governance and digital systems.
The discussions emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue focusing on the three essential pillars of digitization. These conversations revealed the potential and the pitfalls of Africa’s current digital trajectory. Africa leads in mobile money adoption, making digital payments the most advanced DPI pillar. The annual State of Instant and Inclusive Payments Systems (SIIPS) 2024report by advisory firm AfricaNenda highlights progress through real-time, low-cost, interoperable systems that enhance financial inclusion. While innovations like mobile money have revolutionized financial inclusion, critical challenges persist particularly in rural areas where foundational issues like poor internet coverage, unstable electricity, limited affordability of the devices and data and cyber threats remain unaddressed.
Interoperability and real-time cross-border services are still underdeveloped, creating digital silos that limit regional integration. Moreover, emerging technologies like AI risk replicating global biases unless they are contextualized for local languages, cultures, and knowledge systems. AI is steadily gaining ground in Uganda driven by improved computing infrastructure and a growing community of developers and researchers. It has been leveraged in the healthcare sector mostly in telemedicine, where algorithms have been used to analyze patient symptoms and medical history to provide preliminary diagnosis. Uganda has seen growth in the use of AI in other sectors like agriculture, education, finance and trade. However, it is still challenging in the regulatory frameworks since there are few guidelines for AI validation and oversight in the country. There is a call for evidence-based research in each context to identify biases and challenges, for instance a research by Centre for Multilateral Affairs on AI governance that identified gender challenges in the AI policy landscape in Uganda.
Conclusion:
Africa has a unique opportunity to lead in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), but success depends on tailored approaches that consider local contexts and governance capacities. While advancements in digital ID, payment systems, and data exchange are promising, their full potential requires the integration of existing digital systems at national and regional levels, guided by strong governance frameworks and aligned with the African Union’s Interoperability and Data Protection policies.
A people-centered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) must focus on enhancing connectivity, ensuring access to energy, and empowering youth through capacity building. Investments should foster local innovation and build upon existing systems to create scalable, context-relevant solutions that maximize impact while minimizing redundancy.
As we move forward, it is essential for governments, civil society, private sector, academia, media and the technical community to invest in people-centered solutions that close digital divides, strengthen local agency, and uphold digital rights for all.
